SHIPS FOR PRODUCE.

Auckland Star, Volume LII, Issue 157, 4 July 1921, Page 3

SHIPS FOR PRODUCE.

(To the Editor.) Sh-,—ln the "Star" Mr. B. Tripp of I -Timaru, is reported to recommend to overcome the freight and shipping difficulty that govern., the export of produce that we secure a fleet of insulated shipping, to be purchased by a loan floated by the Government, to be redeemed by an import and export tax of two per cent. To secure a fleet of ships is a step in the right direction, but as a producer and consumer I object and every intelligent person will do likewise, to the import and export tax, because it will defeat what he proposes it will do—benefit the producer. The import tax will raise the costs of production by being charged in the cost of everything consumed that is imported, and-'enable the local manufacturers to charge an equivalent increase for the finished article, while by the scheme propounded he will secure his raw materials from abroad cheaper by the reduction of freights at the consumer's expense. The export tax will retard production because the exports will be sold in competition in the world's markets and cannot be passed on: therefore that system of financing is like the man who took his horse and cart to the bog for a load of peats to keep the tiring burning, who got bogged, and instead of dumping the load oil the horsp he kept shifting the load from one side to the other, with the result the horse got down and could not rise. Permit mc to recommend to the producers the only sound policy for freighting their good's to and from the point of production. It is as follows: (1) That the differential freights and fares be abolished on the railways. (2) That the Government secure an up-to-date fleet of ships. (3) That the cost of running the railway and shipping system be met by a charge upon the unimproved land value of the country without exemption. Thorold Rogers said: "Every improvement of the soil, every railway and road, every bettering of the general condition of society, every facility given for production, every stimulus applied to consumption raises rent. The landlord sleeps but thrives." '

The first recommendation would I place the railways and public highways' upon the same footing, thereby cause better highways to be constructed and ' maintained, and secure more primary producers from the large body of deadheads in the service. The second would keep freights to the actual working expenses. The third would be in accordance with justice and equity, because no man made land, air, water or sunshine, the essential for production of produce. It is the inheritance of the whole species. The freer tho importation of foreign goods the greater the importation. The more one buys nf foreigners the more they can buy of u=. The more they can buy the more they will buy. More they will buy. more we produce. More production, more work. More work, more employed. More workers employed, higher purchasing , power of the community and higher ! wages will be. The less the taxes on i things consumed, the higher wa=rp= will - be. ' With the State the jrround rent > collector, and no import or export taxes ! on goods, the producers' wages will be highest of all.—l «™- e+c.. i WILLIAM SHANK? ' Pukemiro. j 1