EXPORT DUTIES.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 333, 21 October 1908, Page 10

EXPORT DUTIES.

i Sir,—l jiolico that Mr. D.. M'Lareiij .one of the so-cajlwi Labour supports'an oxport duty on one of our principal staple products—butter.. . It .speaks .volumes, for the deplorable state of .economic ignoraaco that tbeso blind leaders .of .the' blind aro in ivlien a measuro. Is advocated that would heavily'- handicap, our. prime producers—the dairy farmers, lit- jviU not be deuiwl .that a falling prico forjjour prime products would

soriously oripplo those industries and adversely affect trades and manufactures. To check oxports we must also limit imports. There would be loss employment for the milkers and all tho ramilication of labour connected with tho dairy industry. Does Mr. MlLaren dosiro to produco a slump on the wharf? Tho fundamental cause of tho dearness of butter in tho local market is not duo solely to tho sustained high export price received in tho,London market. The major oause can bo traced to high land values, to tho fact that pasture land has been forced beyond its utility margin by speculation, and tho frenzied borrowing policy of tho Government. An export tax on butter offers no remedy for thoso conditions, nor will a further dip into the Pandora box of Protection and State Socialism improve our position. Any sane person, who watuhos tho trend of politics, must see that tho Government and tho so-called Labour party have 110 sound policy to offer the country, exceptan invitation for tv deeper plunge into tho ccss-poola of collectivism. —I am, etc., CYNICUS. Ootobor 6.