PROTECTIVE TARIFFS.

Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20277, 20 August 1937, Page 9

PROTECTIVE TARIFFS.

(To the Editor.) Sir,—Once again the Prime Minister t has made an emphatic statement that " local industries must be protected from unfair competition, in response to the 1 j manufacturers’ complaints that their 3 1 products are being driven off the local : : market as a result of increased costs. I Mr Savage’s response was that “the y Government’s policy for expansion of ? , manufacturing in New Zealand would II j include protection IT local industries I from unfair conn * ! ‘ n from imports.” 6 That, of course, mean only one * j thing under orthodox finance —another j increase, in costs, for it would be quite impossible for the Government lo give f Mi is protection by going back on its . j iiiduslrial legislation. } ! Nor must il be ITgollon that the ; : Minister of Finance. Mr Nash, lias been p | stressing llu: necessity for Iwo-way i trade, and to place any restrictions on | imports must mililale against future ~ j agreements willi Hie Empire countries. The big quest ion K how serious is t lie flood of imports that are supposed lo be dealing a death-blow at. our local industries? The sterling credits, s which arc tlie financial source of ims ports, have not fallen •substantially g from what they were. So far we have e only heard the news from the inters ested parlies, the Manufacturers’ 3, Association and tho Government; and, 1- indeed, it will probably lie some time .3 i before the position is properly eluri:r j fled, as it. is of such recent growth. I and the demand for many commodities c, I varies with Ihe season of the year. Kil If the flood of imports, lot in as a >s result, of tlie increases of eosls, is 5, sufficient lo cause a set -back lo indus- »- try as a whole-—which I very much doubt—lhe Labour Government must fall, for rmpioynienl is far more dear to Hie worker Ilian tho forly-lmur week: a .mb at longer hours is heller _ Hum no job at all. I’rolerlion can only lie given through |r * j Increasing Ihe cost of living: I Imre also '^ l j nian - and any nllempl ~ 1 lo sinner credit lie adopted. , | Gerl ain I > Ihe Industrial Kllirien.w '_|Arl, willi its provision lor licensing "j I control and price fixation al a heavs 'j cost in individual lil.erly and I In' I grnwlh of luir.-aiicr.iey. promised in;>y ! tliis has apparently md -atMli'd lora ,, r | all | ! n • .S IIN'IU- ... V i! .’id*- 111 . 1 \ I •! IT.M'i .N I . >L! etc. * ' 13,