NEW ZEALAND TARIFF

Evening Post, Volume CXVII, Issue 75, 29 March 1934, Page 11

NEW ZEALAND TARIFF

MR. FULTON IN LONDON

REQUEST TURNED DOWN

Exception has been taken by the New Zealand Manufacturers 3 Federation to statements which, it alleges, have been made in London by Mr. Dynes Pulton, and last night, on behalf .of the federation, Mr. F. L. Hutchinson, tho president, asked the Prime Minister (the Et, Hon. G. W. Forbes) to repudiate pronouncements made by Mr. Pulton. "Information from London indicates that Mr. Dynes Fulton, of the Dairy Board, is making repeated public de^ clarations that New Zealand is prepared to effect drastic reductions or oven abolition of the tariff on British goods, in exchange for exemption from the quota," said Mr. Hutchinson. "As Mr. Fulton is in London officially and not as a private individual, his declarations cannot toe dismissed as mere expx-essions of a private opinion. "Even if our Government .has a clear understanding with the British Government, it is- apparent that influential eireles in-London are accepting Air. Fulton's statements as semi-official and inspired. I therefore invite, the Prime Minister to. make a pronouncement which will prevent New Zealand's position being piaced further in a false light, and definitely repudiate tho suggestion that the Government is willing to sacrifice .our manufacturing industries if required to avoid a quota." Commenting, on this statement of Mr. Hutchinson's, Mr. Forbes said that New Zealand had made no offer to reduce her ■ tariffs, but had simply inquired what would bo tho effect of a reduction of tariffs on Great Britain's attitude towards the Dominion's products. The cable sent by tho New Zealand Government to the Home authori: ties, and which had already been published, together with the reply, made it quite clear there was no offer to lower tariffs. It would be most improper to make such an offer while a Tariff Commission was sitting and inquiring into tho position as far as it affects .British interests. New Zealand simply asked tho question in view of the widespread rumours which had been circulating to the effect that Britain would give n free entry for our produce if we reduced or removed our tariffs. In reply, Mr. Forbes said that he was not aware that: Mr. Fulton was in London in an official capacity. He was certainly not representing the Government. His impression was that Mr. Fulton had gone to England in his capacity as chairman of directors of the New Zealand : Co-operative Dairy Company,, and not even in his capacity as a member of the Dairy Board.