HIGHER TARIFF WALL

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 22, 26 January 1929, Page 12

HIGHER TARIFF WALL

X.Z. LAMB IN AMERICA

Australian fresj Association. (Received 26th January, 8 a.m.)

WASHINGTON, 25th January.

Dr. S. W. M'Clure, of Bliss, Idaho, representing the National Wool Growers' Association, before the House of Kepresentatives' Ways and Means Committee, to-day asked "that the duty on- Jamb be increased from 4' to 7 cents, to meet impending competition from New Zealand. He said that New Zealand had made a. successful test shipment^ and has a committee planning the invasion of the American market. Dr. M'Clure indicated that the wool growers will ask for a revision of the wool tariff when the Committee reaches that schedule.

Western cattle raisers also asked for increased duties on. meat. They contended that the cattle industry, though better off than it was several years ago, was in a state of unrest, duo to the possibility of the' embargo against Argentine cattle and meats being lifted. They argued that the tariff should be high enough to guard against any. such contingency and afford wider markets for American cattle and meat. They urged that the tariff on socalled feeder cattle should be made 3 cents, and on slaughter or fat cattle 4 cents, compared with the, existing rates of IV2 and. 2 cents. Requests for increases on every other kind of meat, swine, goats, etc., were also made.

Ketail merchants, particularly those dealing in frozen meats, appeared before the Committee, and opposed the increases, stating that higher duties would bring a, further decline in domestic meat consumption, and would be ruinous to their business. They pointed out,that the imports last year were'less than 1 per cent, of the consumption, and that prices to-day were at a higher level than ever before. One group of cattle-raisers advocated a 6 cent duty on green hides and 16 cents on dry hides. Strong urged that an American valuation be used in arriving at the tariff rates. .