HIGHER N.Z. TARIFFS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue LXIX, 21 September 1938, Page 6

HIGHER N.Z. TARIFFS.

NO PREJUDICIAL EFFECT. STATEMENT BY AUSTRALIAN. Statement* made on Monday by Mr. R. H. McKenzie, chairman of directors of the New Zealand Co-operative Dairy Company, that higher tariffs on British goods has caused the Dominion to lose its place as "Great Britain's white-haired boy" were to-day refuted by Mr. L. Withall, Federal secretary of "the Associated Chambers of Manufacturers of Australia, at a Manufacturers' Association luncheon.

Mr. Withall has been visiting Great Britain with the members of the Australian Government trade delegation, which sought to make a new trade agreement between -Australia and Great Britain to replace the Ottawa pact of 1932. He will leave for Australia to-morrow.

"Mr. McKcn/ie stated yesterday that the tariff policy was having a prejudicial effect on the Dominion's exporUs of dairy produce to Great Britain," said Mr. Withall. '•! have no hesitation in aayin" that criticism of that kind has no solid ban is. Tliero may be individual manufacturers in England who have lost trade and are naturally critical, but there are seoree and scores doing business with Australia and Xew Zealand who had no connections before. In epite of all the manufacturing in Australia, imports there are of New Zealand; that is because of the large manufacturing industries there. The same thing will happen in Xew Zealand when the local industries develop. "Such statements are therefore to be deplored," Mr. Withall continued. "Personally. I think Xew Zealand is still the 'white-haired boy' of the Dominion*. It is known to be the extraordinary patriotic part of the Empire. Your Dominion still rates very hjn-h indeed with the people." °