U.S.A. FARM PRODUCE

Greymouth Evening Star, 26 January 1929, Page 7

U.S.A. FARM PRODUCE

.MORE PROTECTION WANTED.

(Australian Press Association.) (By Cable—Press Assn —Copyright.)

WASHINGTON, January 25. Dr S. W. McClure Bliss, of Idaho, representing the National Woolgrowers’ Association, appearing before the House of Representatives Ways and Means Committee to-day, asked that the duty on lamb be increased from four to seven cents per pound, in order to meet impending competition from New Zealand. He said that New Zealand had macle a successful test shipment, and that she lias a Committee, planning off the American market. He indicated that the wool growers will ask for a revision of the wool tariff when the Committee reached that schedule. The 'Western cattle raisers have also asked Congress for increased duties on meat. They contended that the cattle industry, though it is better off than it was several years ago, was in a state of unrest, due to the possibility of the present embargo against Argentine cattle and meats being lifted. They argued that the tariff should be high enough to guard against any such contingency. and to afford wider markets for American cattle, and meat. They also urged that the tariff on the. socalled “feeder” cattle should be made three cents, and on “slaughter” or fat cattle, four cents;, as compared with the existing rate of. one. and a-half and two cents. Requests for -increases on every other kind of meat, swine, goats, etc., were also made.

Retail merchants, particularly those dealing in frozen meats; appearing before the committee, opposed the increases, stating that higher duties would bring a further' decline in. the domestic meat consumption, and would be ruinous to their business- They pointed out that the imports last year were less than one per cent of the consumption, and that the prices to-day were at a higher level than ever before. Ons group of cattle raisers advocated a six cent duty on green -hides and sixteen cents on dry hides. Representative Strong urged that an American valuation be riSed in arriving at the tariff rates.