TARIFF REVISION

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 68, 22 March 1933, Page 6

TARIFF REVISION

ITo the Editor.)

Sir.—Under the above heading I have before me your report of Mr P Campbell's reply to Mr. Goodfellow. concerning the charge he makes against Xew Zealand failing to honour the promises given at Ottawa, and signed on August

Before me is also a copy of the Ottawa Agreement, and although it has probably been learned by heart by most p*eople interested, permit me to quote: Article No. B.—"His Majesty's Government in New Zealand undertakes to instittito an inquiry into the existing protective duties, and, where necessary, to reduce them as speedily as possible to such a level as will place the United Kingdom producer in the position of a domestic competitor—that is, that the protection afforded to the New ■ Zealand producer shall be on a level which will give the United Kingdom producer full opportunity of reasonable competition on_ the basis of the relative cost of economical and efficient production."

. Article No. 9.—"His Majesty's Government in New Zealand undertakes that United Kingdom producers shall have an opportunity of putting forward their vieAvs in connection with the inquiry referred to in Article 8 hereof."

Move than half a year has elapsed since .we, in exchange for* valuable privileges^ signed an agreement to place the British manufacturer on a fairly competitive level with Xew Zealand manufacturers; Britain lias kept her bargain, but how have we behaved? By-raising a further difficulty— an additional 15 per cent, exchange— against those we promised to "place in the position of a domestic competitor," and that "as speedily as possible." "*■

The present position, in spite of Mr. Campbell's special pleading, and disbelief in Mr. Goodfellow's avowal, is a comminuted fracture of the Ottawa Agreement, and there is no sign of the surgeon yet.

Tho Manufacturer's Federation wishes to postpone as long as possible' the promised investigation into tariff questions— sufficient time for entrenchment means the battle half won —but seven months should easily suffice to prove New Zealand oan quickly become an exporter of-manu-factured goods; that onr huge population and geographical position naturally tend that way; that vre can easily absorb all our primary produce, and are dependent on no other country in any way whatever. Defence? Oh. that is a mere trifle. Our motto is: "It matters not how straight the gate, or charged with punish-, ment the scfoll, I am the master of my fate, the captain of my soul."—l am, NEMESIS.