PROTECTIVE DUTIES

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 520, 29 May 1909, Page 6

PROTECTIVE DUTIES

»;■' '.' ' -'■':"• '■■'..■.■.'* ■'■ • ■ '■■ :' '.; ... .' (BIJTiiEOEAPiI—PEESS; ASSOCIATION.) , ':.■■■ Auckland, May 27. .A ..ronut-nroni'. the'Clevedon branch was ■ moved- afternoon at the Farmers' Union conferences.'by Mr."Schmidt, as follows:— ''That immediate; steps be taken'to make the fifth plank of the/platform of orir union effective; viz.; ! that taxation through the Customs should be for, the purpose of raising revenue, and not for protective purposes." Mt. Schmidt said that there was no protection for their exp6rts, and the. fictitious values of manufacturers within the Dominion were'such that each pound they got back only brought 13s. Bd. worth of goods. Speaking on! the question of timber importations, he aiid th»t Oregon , pine was brought into New Zesdandata cost of 75.6 d., and. sold at 17s. M.,' and yet they desired to put on an2s ; :'duty. ■ • ■■;■' ' Guptain Colbeck, in seconding the motion, quoted b mass of figures in support of Freetrade: Tho farmers, sold at English' prices,' and bought at New Zealand ones; All they asked was to; be allowed to buy and sell at a natural price. . Mr. Duxfield said that he thought that cooperation was going to help to solvo the difficulty. '. They had too many middlemen, and too many parasites, and they wanted to. bring the producer, and consumer together. ■ ■ Mr.. Flanagan thought the figures quoted were exaggerated. The question required oarefaK consideration.' Where were'the'yaet stjias to come from—at least two millions sterling—if they took.off protective duties?. ' Mr. T)ye said that Mr. Flanagan had struck the right note. Take away the! money raised by protective tariff, and they would probably attempt to raise money by taxing the land further. . The motion was carried.