FARMERS' VIEW

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 9, 11 July 1934, Page 12

FARMERS' VIEW

"POSITION IS SERIOUS"

OTTAWA AS SHEET ANCHOR

The initial reaction of the'farming community to the new Customs tariff is one of disappointment and. concern, according to a statement made by Mr. W. J. Poison, M.P., president of the New Zealand Farmers' Union.

Discussing the position in an interview, Mr. Poison said that in view of of the disastrous happenings during the last twenty-four hours in the threat in England of not only restrictions, but of a levy on New Zealand imports and a complete embargo on beef of all classes, the producers of the Dominion were looking more than ever to the Ottawa Agreement as a sheet anchor in a time when they needed succour. It had been hoped that the terms of the agreement could be carried out in the language implied, so that the process of interchange of products would secure greater advantages for New Zealand than now appeared to be the case.

"The tariff adjustments," said Mr. Poison, "do not disclose any real reduction, at least any worth while considering, that will affect our . farming costs. Lowering of the duties on British motor imports and iron and steel goods will undoubtedly mean some slight cost reduction, but the total does not amount to any great sum, as the anticipated increase of £90,000 in Customs revenue must indicate."

We as a farming industry have never been against-the secondary in-, dustnes. We realise that the secondary industries that are economic are- as important to New Zealand- as the primary industry, and we have never sought to bring- about immediate or absolute ■ free trade between New Zealand and the United Kingdom or anything of that sort. We have contented ourselves with asking for gradual tariff reduction and for a strong preference for inter-Empire trade. But we were forced to demand that that preference bo very real in the hope of impressing upon the British Government and the British public the desirability of giving us preferential .treatment at the other end. Apparently, that hope has failed temporarily at all events, and if the principle that has been established at Home in regard to the meat industry is extended to tho dairy ind vlstJ7'. as nn<2°ubtedly it will be unless there' is a revolutionary . change in public opinion in England, it will be the most serious disaster that has ever overtaken that-industry. I need not add that the present situation is very serious." .