An Effect of Protection.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XV, Issue 4793, 7 August 1894, Page 2

An Effect of Protection.

(To (he Editor, W.D. Times.) Sib—Will you kindly allowjnc to call the. attention of the- Tariff licvisidn Commillcc to the fact that the present duly of 15 per cent on single-ply llax binding twineis havingn very disastrous effect upon the farming community without in any way addinjjlolhcrcvcmtc, A little three-ply twine is still imported, and if it necessary for revenue purposes that the duly on this variety remains, there would be very little hardship in allowing'it to do so.V' Tho single-strand arliclois aluiostcxcliisivcly used, andas this is made locally from awcosm-phormkmtiiiax, tho Custom House derives no addition to its funds and the duty simply serves to fend'off competition aud to increase the price to the consumer. The industry requires no protection, as it is only subject to'competition with twines made' in England, America or Australia • from A T cw Zealand grown material. The use of Manilla.Jibro in binding twine is so Binall that it is scarcely worth talcing into consideration; anil the very freight aud insurance on New Zealand fibres to other ports aud its return to this Colony, is ample cover for very substantial profits. So long as the present duty lasts, it will solely serve as a medium for flowing tho farmer. Importation of singlo-plytwino lias ceased, so that the revenue gets notliing.and the farmer has to pay several thousands a year in exoess profits and will eouliuue to do so as long as this duty is 'rcjaincd. This year the makers have advanced their prices a half -penny per poundl in the face of tho lowest fibre market-that has : been known for years, and did try to carry it to five-pence. : It was'affecting to hoar tho Colonial Treasurer's sympathetic reference to : thohardup farmer iii his Budget speech,! and few not. in thp kubw would credit him with being the main orgauizcrof tin's advance. However, if this duty we're .token oft>o could, bring Hew Zealand-made twine front. Geolong or Molboiinio back to this Colony, and sell it for less than the makers will charge tho largcstdislributing houses in the trade locally. In other words, Now Zcalaud-niado twine is sold this season to the Victorian

farmer at 3fd, ex duty, at Gcclong, or Melbourne, lvliilst here at the factory it is unobtainable at. a lower list price than .fid. Why? To enable Victorian dealers to sell at 3|d in Gcelong a price of not moro than 3d must liavo been quoted them alongside wharf in Melbourne by New Zealand makers, and if so, why is the pricohighcr locally p The:'fluty'.is solely to blame. Price is'not computed on the cost of pro- : dnction, but.ou.thc landed cost of ' competing, lines from abroad. Its cost to the farmer is several thousands 1

of pounds annually." .Taking'the averagoconsumpfioh at 800 tons per annum, the cost of this twiuc toinc, if I buy for otir Melbourne house, i would be not more Uiau £22,-100. or probably gnlv £20,533, whilst if lam buying for the local market I have to pay £27,027 for the same article, Can anybody fell iiie why P' ■ Labour interests cannot be answerable for this anomaly/. It is very unlikely, that, tlio unions lroiild,accept one rate of wage for twine. made for export to a jicighboiiririg'colnhy, : and demand a higher rate for home, consumption"'Aii!industry'that willingly quotes 2|d or 3d at Melbourne lias no

right to be assisted by a duty to mulct tlio. localf armor in i|d.,. • If ,tho .distributing ;houses' in No'ir- Zealaiul'are charged for' £4,600. to. £0,500 more for their supplies thaii branches of the same proprietary iuJYictoiia, the excess is at once passed along to Ike'famor,'-and imposes upon him a further handicap in his struggles witli%d harvest!!; small yicldslyaiid' unprecedented.'low; prices. No wonder thb''Treasurer : is : - anxious to assist'.'•;.; tluv farming-'''•'community to cheap; ■' mouejy' when' he. is; ongnieohi)g''a combination to" relieve them ef several thousands which ho Vrould not cha'rgq the 'Australian fav'mor : for tlio samo 'harvesting': necessary;' -If ie: Hoo}Mr ■Ward-isismcerVialiis

■...' ■:.. ■.■';%:% v piSo|estati6ns,of-;intcrogtjiiri tho. of'jSur farmers; :hos. will himself see to' - ' Ltlip; thlsfduty, and also tliat' *s !!:tlio,fnpt6rj iii|which;\ho is. so largely § interested wiMargela prico during tho ; cost ' : ofp)roduction r p]ußti-fairprofit,ani, at - ', any rdtbj iiot'iii pxeesa of the price it V' 'would charge "dealers in other Tlieromllbonolossof revenuo tothe' Government; so that tlio Treasurer need | have'no qualms of conscience, in his 1 official capacity ;kt if he^WjiotinpTe i fanning constituencies,must, do:tuicir - diity/If the Tariff HcyisiqtfiCimmittco thp .tii&duty oa '. smgio-ply'fi^ ; no doubt find the House in sympathy ! m,^thcni—l'am.cto,.- r , ; ,,;..'-,,■ : ■ .; ; ;;i4.".'!/ ■ ■ Buckeye Harvester Co. Duncdin, \\- -MthJu]yi:lß(a v V:■■•;■