HIGH TARIFF.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 19312, 17 May 1928, Page 8

HIGH TARIFF.

AND INCREASED COSTS. CAPTAIN COLBECK'S ATTACK. [THE PBBSS Special Service.] WELLINGTON, May 16. A spirited attack on protective tariffs was. made by Captain Colbeck at the Industrial Conference to-day, his remarks being aroused by the statement .made by Mr W. H. P. Barber that protective tariffs did not increase the costs of production. "I have kept silent all through this discussion'' said Captain Colbeckj ' 'from- a desire to avoid creating dissension between those on our side, and then Mr Barber goes and makes a statement like that. (Laughter.) He says that increased protection does' not increase costs. Sir, I have had something to do with commerce as well as with farming. A pair of boots which costs 12s 8d to produce in England cannot be sold here at less than 31s lOd, to allow alO per cent, profit. It is ridiculous to make statements such as Mr Barber's when those are the facts. There is 20 per cent, added to the cost of importations and Mr Barber asks you to continue, this imposition. He asks the primary producers to go on paying this levy. Is there too much food in the country? Is anyone overpaid?" A voice: What about flour?

Captain Colbeck: One of the curses of New Zealand is the tax on foodstuffs. If I had my way I would abolish all Customs duties on foodstuffs. Why is it necessary to have a duty on wfieat? Because you have so raised the cost of producing it until the farmer cannot produce wheat without it. Pigs are subsidised to enable the production of bacon. Soon you will have to subsidise butter, and then what will become of New Zealand? Is all the land in New Zealand cultivated? Voices: No.

Captain Colbeck: Because it does not pay to do it, and that, is because you have artificially increased the cost of production. You have so artificially raised the costs as to stop production. You can get land in the Waikato at less than the cost of the improvements upon it. There is land round Rotorua vou can get for nothing. A voice: What eood is it?

The chairman (Mr A. D. Thomson): The question before the conference is unemployment.

Captain Colbeck: The reason for unemployment to-day is because you cannot cultivate land T give vou this offer—the farmers of New Zealand will employ every unemployed man if artificial restrictions are barred.