NEW ZEALAND TARIFFS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 221, 18 September 1930, Page 10

NEW ZEALAND TARIFFS.

DEVELOPMENT DESCRIBED.

REVENUE TO -PROTECTION.

"All the' early tariffs were . imposed solely for revenue purposes, although in some cases they had the effect of being protective as well," said Mr. F. M. Price in the. course of- a lecture ' on "The Effects of the Tariff in New Zealand," given last,evening before the Auckland , branch-of the Economic Society of: Australia .and _. New Zealand. Mr. ,-W;. 11. Cocker presided. '. ■•; "»\{.l'-'-\.

M-γ. Price described how Zealand Customs tariff, instituted asl "a; source of revenue! developed into : one; of-•*mild ~protection after the • depression'of the Eighties. For raaiiy years the .Customs tariff was almost the only assured source of income for-State purposes. In 1873' Customs and excise duties amounted to.more than £ 3 a head of the population, and when the Vogel policy had been in operation for ten years the Customs House was still providing three-quarters of the revenue. A gradual, though distinct, qhange from £ revenue to a protectionist policy, was witnessed in.the decade 1880-1890; Controversies on this;thorny subject began; almost.. imperceptibly, and it r wasnot : until 1881 that a straight-out free trade' or protection issue was, fought in"the House, 'Major Atkinson's billVof JBBl\ was described- by. free-traders thin end of the wedge, but it Avas the/Ait of. 1888 that finally, decided the, matter.: ■ "Oh the whole," said Mr. Price, certain that protection did arbitration to improve the wages anfl. status of workmen in New Zealand, but other causes were also pi*esent, such as factory legislation and the growing prosperity of a young country." . . ■'■;;'