NEW ZEALAND'S TARIFF.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 91, 10 January 1908, Page 7

NEW ZEALAND'S TARIFF.

, MR. JEFFRAY'S VIEW, mi miGiurh—ritEss 1 association— coi'tbight.

(Rec. Jan. 9, 10.10 p.m.) V : London,; January 9,

• Mr. R. J. Jeffray, the Imperial Trade Commissioner who, oil behalf■ of tho Board of Trade, visited the Commonwealth and New Zealand in order to report ,as to the position and' prospects of ;British trade, has written 6 report on the New Zealand trado, which is now, published. ■

; Mr. . Jeffray. admits. that Now Zealand's preference tariff has assisted British trade. He'anticipates still, better results under the new tariff.' '

. 'The original report of the; Board of Trade, based on evidence collected by Mr. Jeffray, stated thatxstatistics. reveal ■,substantially : the comparative progress of foreign countries as contributors to' Australian imports. There is evidence, however, which suggests that the gain to foreign countries is greater in appearance than reality,, and there' is -nothing -to" suggest that , Britain's position, is. seriously menaced' inl' the ..great ;staple;. lines Of cotton, iron,' and steel goods. The report concludes with the statement that British traders on the whole have deliberately chosen to restrict themselves to" a small number of the great main lines of production, leaving the smaller and cheaper lines largely to foreigners.