THE TARIFF.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19111, 21 September 1927, Page 10

THE TARIFF.

AND SECONDARY INDUS-

TRIES.

MANUFACTURERS DISPLEASED.

[THE PRESS Specl&l Htrrlct.]

WELLINGTON, September 20,

"If England did for herself what New Zealand has done for her, she would be the most prosperous country in the world," declared the chairman (Mr F. Campbell) at a meeting to-day of the Wellington Manufacturers' Association, when the tariff was discussed. "The time has arrived, 5 ' said Mr Campbell, "when the secondary industries should take some action, so that they will be represented in Parliament by a man in favour of the highest protective tariff.''

• Mr L. B. Partridge: I would not take this tariff lying down. I would put up the biggest fight that has ever been put up. The chairman: But you can't fight the Government?

"No," replied Mr Partridge, "but you can use the big stick. Why, what the Government proposes is not even an attempt to foster local industries. It is a magnificent tariff for the Britisher, and for the farmer." In view of the increased preference to Great Britain, the percentage should have been increased, said Mr Campbell, from 50 per cent., as at present, to 75 per cent.

For the twelve months ended March 31st, 1926, said Mr Partridge, New Zealand had spent £l6 19s 6d per head on British goods, Australia £lO Ss Id, South Africa £4 3s 4d, Canada £2 18s lid, France 14s Bd, Germany 12s sd, America 9s, Italy Ss 9d, and Bussia lid. Mr A. Seed said it was not right that America should be allowed to place her timber on the New Zealand market at the same rates as British countries.

The chairman thought that many of the difficulties in connexion with the tariff would have been overcome if the Minister had been given greater discretionary powers. Mr Burton: I think we are a little premature in commenting on the tariff, in view of the fact that we have not seen the Board's report. The chairman: But Cabinet has based its decision on the Board's report, which will be submitted to the House in due course.

Mr Burton: But the Board might be able to justify its conclusions. Mr E. Bull said he thought everybody appreciated the difficulties with which a tariff commission had to contend.

A voice: They are colossal. Mr Seed: I think the trouble is that the commission received many conflicting views on certain industries. Mr Partridge: That has been the bugbear all along. The chairman: " The secondary industries have got to pull together for th 9 benefit of the country as a whole, or e" i they will get nowhere." The Government, ho added, had not given sufficient attention to the industries which could employ the greatest number of people. It was because of that that he was disappointed with the new tarif.

Dominion presidents and secretaries of the Manufacturers' Association, said Mr Campbell, would meet in conference in Wellington on Thursday, with the object of placing the decisions arrived at before the Minister on Friday.

DUTY ON MAIZE. (PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAU.) GISBORNE, September 20. . Nearly a hundred farmers met this evening to protest against the. reduction of the duty on imported maize. The following resolution was carried: "This meeting of maize-growers in Poverty Bay district views with alarm the proposal to reduce the tariff on maize by 50 per cent. Owing to climatic conditions, and the nature of the soil, it has been long recognised that maize is the only exportable crop in the cereal line which can be grown in this district with any degree of success, it has also been recognised that we cannot compete with coloured labour, and cheap land, such as pertains in South Africa. Under the protection of the present tariff, growers have been encouraged to largely increase output, and many have invested capital in. tractors and other machmery ; with a. view to sowing still further increased areas during the coming season. In addition to the larger growers, many dairy farmers, including a number'of returned soldiers, cultivated small areas of maize as ah adjunct to dairying. This has been of material assistance to them during recent yenis. The proposed reduction of the tarm, if carried out, will so narrow the already small margin of pront that production will be seriously checked, and undue hardship inflicted upon settlers, who, even under the. present conditions, find it a hard struggle to keep afloat. This meeting therefore urges the Government' to retain the present tariff, and thus assist in encouraging increased production, the necessity for which members of the Cabinet have so consistently been impressing upon the farmers of the Dominion." It was also resolved that two delegates should be appointed to approach the Minister for Customs urging that the reduction be not made. WHEAT. (AUSTRALIAN AND K.Z. AND BUS CABLE.) LONDON, September 19. Cargoes arts quieter, owing to -weak American week-end cables, and prices are mostly at 3d to 6d decline. ... j. Parcels have scarcely any attention at from 6d to 9d decline. At Liverpool futures are quoted:—October 103 4id, December 10s 4Jd, March 103 SJd, May 10a 3Jd per cental. NEW YORK, September 19. Chicago wheat quotations : —September 126g, December 130J, March 1333 cents per bushel. METALS. '(Received September 20th, 8.30 p.m.) LONDON, September 19. Copper—Spot £55 5s 7Jd a ton, forwird £55 14s 4Jd; electrolytic, spot £62 sb, forward £O2 10b; wire bars, £62 10s. Lead —Spot £2l 18s 9d a ton; forward £22 10s. Spelter—Spot £27 8s 9d a ton, forward £27 8s 9d. i Tin —Spot £284 14s 6d, forward £278 17s 6d- Silver —Standard 25Jd an ounce, fine 27 15-16 d. FROZEN MEAT. The Bank of New Zealand has received the following cabled advice from its London office, dated 'September 16th:—Frozen meat: The market for wether mutton is firm with an upward tendency. The market advance in ewes and lamba is due to forward speculation. Prices are: Wethers, light 53& to 6Jd per lb, heavy sfcl to sfd per lb; ewes, 4§d to 5d per lb; lambs, 2s 9d to 9Jd per lb, B'e B}d to Bid per lb, 4'e aid to BJd per lb, seconds SJd to 3d per lb.