The Federal Tariff.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume III, Issue 116, 17 October 1901, Page 1

The Federal Tariff.

MitBonRNE. October 15. Mr Seddon's complaint in regard to the tariff shotting ottfc New ZealanA produce does not lieeb with muca sympathy from either Bide. The Freertraders point otot that New Zealand is having a t«*te of the policy bW deliberately adopted-, and cannot complain when she fee's that it Cats the other way. The Protectionists say that-Mr Seddon ought »o come into the Federation. If he to i no lisks Over Federation, he cannot expect any benefits. It would be a very one-sided arrangement if Australian markets were open to New Zealanders and Australians were shut out of New Z -aland.

Mr Reid moved the censure motion la a packed House. The motion condemn* the tariff on the ground that it would p ess upoi the necessaries of life, and thfj appliances used for the farming* mining and pastoral industries, more heavily than on luxuries, and would destroy the stability of the revenue by making the imposts for national purposes a source of undue profits to a few favoured industries at the expense of the whole community. His indictment of the tariff was that it had no mark upon it to favour the pioneers of the countryv but instead that it introduced a deformity to benefit artificial industries at the cost) of the pioneer industries of Australia* and made a preserve for the great manufacturing centres at Sydney and Melbourne. It was a red-hot protectionist policy, and a fraud upon the people of Australia, and if adopted would place the finances .of the Commonwealth upoa an unsou id basis-, Whatever was the fate of the motion, he was sure that the free list would not be allowed to remain in its present unsatisfactory state. Mr Barton, iti replying, said that Mr Reid had not shown in any way the Government policy was bad. They did not claim that it waß a perfect tariff, but he had entirely fulfilled the promises he had made at Maitland. Mr Barton** speech was unfinished. THE J?ACIFiC tSkANDS. -

Sydney, October 15. Tke agent for the Governments of Fiji and New Guinea, in a letter to the Sydney Morning Herald, point 3 out thafc the Federal tariff threatens to seriously cripple Sydney's trade with the islands. The proposed duty on bananas i<J practically prohibitive, while the dutiei on aagar> maize, pineapples, cocoanuts, and other products will certainly, as far as Fiji is coDcerued, drive trade to. New Zealand. He suggests that, in order to preserve the trade' here, South Sea Islands products, sugar excepted, should be admitted free. He prophesies that ifc is only a question of trma when all tf tt islands will become dependencies o f the Common woalt h.

NEW ZEALAND'S ATTITUDE. The Premier has sent the following telegram to the principal Bawmill proprietors in the colony:—" The Federal tariff proposes to make-very important alterations in the duty on New Zealand timber imported into Australia. As the matter is very important to the timber industry oj the colony, I shall be exceedingly glad if you can make it convenient to meet in Wellington in conference for the purpose of considering the matter. I am asking ths various sawmill proprietors in the colony to meet together, as the Government can template taking eucft action as may seem most advisable to proect the sawmilliflg interests. Kindly confer with other sawmill proprietors ixjt your district and appoint delegates and state the time it would be convenient foP you to attend the conference. On receipt! of your reply I shall telegraph furthet suggesting tue date on which the confer* ence should take place. It will requir* to be hvld at an early date." The Premier has sent the following telegram to the leading Chambers of Commerce in the colony:—" The tariff brought down by the Federal Govern* ment is one which must have art important bearing upon producers and the export trade of New Zealand) and thd matter is of such importance to the colony as a \vhole that the Government) is now considering what steps, if any, it is desirable to adopt in order to protect the tra-ie of the colony) which) as a result of the high tariff imposed, particularly against New 2ealand> will to some extenS be affected. I shall be glad if you will kindly confer with the members Of you* chamber and favour the Government with an expression of yottr views aport the altered position and what effect yoU think the Fdieral tariff will have upon producers and the export trade ot thß colony; I shall be glad if you will kindly favour me with any suggestion* or proposals yon may have in connection therewith before the matter is finally dealt with by the Cabinet."