MR. POLSON AND THE TARIFF

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 28, 2 August 1934, Page 10

MR. POLSON AND THE TARIFF

(To tho Editor.)

Sir, —Several articles have appeared in your paper of late expressing the views of Mr. W. J. Poison on the tariff question. As one .who is directly affected by the tariff issue, I should liko Mr. Poison to come out into tho -open, and state definitely at what he is aiming. The trend of his remarks points very clearly to one factor", namely, the further reduction of wages. He actually attributes the responsibility for tho high price of land today to the high rates of wages. Surely Mr. Polson is not taking the minimum wage desired by him from that paid to workers in the farming industry. If so, the outlook for tho town worker would bo very black indeed. Thero is no need to remark upon tho miserable wages paid to farm workers.

Obviously, Mr. Poison would like to see the tariff removed, but lie surely cannot overlook the fact that the sacrifice of duty is also a saerifieo of revenue. How is the revemie, so sacrificed, to bo made up? It would bo impossible to place heavier taxes on tho workers, as they would be either unemployed,, through the influx of imports, or, their wages would, of necessity, be so low to meet overseas competition, that further taxation would bo out of tho question. Whoro, then, would the Government look for tho necessary finance to meet overseas commitments? Thero would bo only one taxable source, ana 'that would be the exporter of primary produce. If such a situation were brought about, the question is, ""Would the fanning community bo in a better position than it is today?'' Another factor: Does Mr, Poison realise that whatever percentage wages aro reduced, it would be necessary for tho farming community to reduce, by the samo percentage, the price of all primary produce consumed by those who had suffered a wage reduction? As approximately one-third of tho primary produce of this country is consumed by the Now Zealand public,- tho loss to the farmers must, of necessity, be very considerable. This loss would in no way bo recompensed by the advantage derived from cheapor importation: In closing, Mr. Poison refers to our high standard of living. Well, why should wo not have a high standard of living, as perhaps no other country in the world can boast of such an abundance of natural wealth, per head of its population? If overyono is employed in developing and using' this natural wealth in the interests of New Zealand, not only cau we maintain the present high standard, but *we could create a standard that would make us the envy of tho whole world.—l am, etc, , • W.S.L,