Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1932. TARIFF PROBLEMS.

Greymouth Evening Star, 17 February 1932, Page 4

Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1932. TARIFF PROBLEMS.

PpHE introduction of tariffs in the I Homeland has witnessed the expected struggle by various interests to get exemptions from the new duties, or to have these imposed on competing products, history repeating in Britain what has happened in all Protectionist lands. Among the general desires, however, is to assist the Overseas Dominions in the development of their sales to the Homeland, such sentiments being coupled with strong hints that something is expected from Overseas in return. It is this exchange of favours that will be the test at the Ottawa Conference, and unless there is a give and take spirit developed- throughout the Empire before next July, the Ottawa gathering will be a failure, a result all should try to avoid.

New Zealand has her own tariff devotees busy, at present, prominent among these being Sir James Parr, ex-lligh Commissioner, and subsequently engaged as lecturer on behalf of a tariff crusade. He is now touring the Dominion, giving

addresses, or permitting himself to

be interviewed, on the subject of | duties. Candour compels the admission that the Dominion is not displaying excessive interest in Sir James’s views, these* being well known. For instance, at Hawera, yesterday, Sir James is reported as delivering the following platitudes: “I am confident, that British people would value the expressions of gratitude from the primary producers. We need to encourage a kindly feeling between the Homeland and ourselves, so that both Governments may go to the Ottawa Conference with the best possible atmosphere for making a great trade treaty. I do not see how our Government can go to the Conference without, getting the opinion of primary producers in some way. ’ ’ Leaving the abstract for the concrete, Sir James Parr endorsed the suggestion made by Mr. G. A. Duncan (a dairyman) that the primary producers should confer and decide which British articles they, are prepared to see granted tariff preference, as an expression of appreciation of Britain’s extension of the 10 per cent, preference to the Dominion. Is this, however, a matter for the primary producers to decide ? Have not New Zealand’s manufacturers more right to be heard ? British' exports to this country do not compete with our primary products, and farmers would, in their own special interests, be wise to abolish all tariffs on British manufactures used by primary producers. On the other had, the New Zealand secondary industries find in British-made goods their strongest competitors, and any lessening in the present Dominion protective duties, would be a serious matter for New Zealand manufacturers. If the Dominion decides to try to help Britain by doubling the present duties on foreign-made goods, she must expect retaliation from the countries affected, and new potential markets will be closed to New Zealand’s own exports. The tariff question bristles .with difficulties, and something more than “a kindly feeling” is required to prevent new problems replacing the old. It is to be assumed, meanwhile, that although Mr. Forbes is saying nothing about the Ottawa Conference, he is having adequate study made of the pros, and cons., so that whoever represents New Zealand at the historic gathering, may not be inexperienced on the many technical points to be decided.