DUTY ON U.S. TRACTORS

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27593, 25 February 1955, Page 10

DUTY ON U.S. TRACTORS

FEDERATED FARMERS PROTEST

“DELIBERATE” INCREASE

OF COSTS (Ntw'Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, February 24. The Dominion council of Federated Farmers at its quarterly meeting 1 passed a resolution expressing "great ■ regret that the Government should pursue a policy of deliberately increasing costs of farmers' plant by levying customs duties under which the New Zealand farmer is expected to produce the cheapest produce in the world.” The council was protesting at the Government’s action in lifting an exemption formerly allowed, and thereby levying a duty of 10 per cent, on American crawler farm tractors. "We are not prepared to accept this state of affairs,” the council’s resolution went on, “and shall continue to protest against it, not only in the interests of farmers but in the interests of the Dominion as a whole." The council also expressed the opinion in a resolution that American crawler tractors were the only ones that had proved their efficiency on bill Country in New Zealand, and directed that a vigorous protest be entered with the Government against the imposition of the duty