THE FEDERAL TARIFF.

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 234, 11 October 1901, Page 3

THE FEDERAL TARIFF.

ABSORBING TOPIC IN PUBLIC .MIND.

By Tele-graph—Press Association—Copyrigh Sydney, Oct. 10. The Federal tariff and its effects is the absorbing question in the public mind. The feeling is pretty general that the tariff has been framed under the ictflucnees which have dominated the Victorian fiscal policy, and that scant con- j side-ration has been shown to New South ; Wales predilections for freetrade. The object of making the agricultural j tariff so high lias undoubtedly been to j kiil tile New Zealand trade, and thus . bring the colony up with a sharp turn to j the realisation of what it has lost. As Maoriland supplies the- bulk of the 1 oats used here, a great deal will have to | be imported for the next year or more, j One ernmb of comfort is found in the | /act that in supplying .South African , orders the Australian colonies have drawn I largely on New Zealand to help them fill j such orders.

A couple of years ago the New Zealand producer would have felt such a tarpf very much because Australia was Ids best market ; but turnips have changed now, and it looks as if South Africa will take- her products. The question arises whether producers here will not lose more than those of Maoriland. As one shrewd merchant remarked, New Zealand will now make special efforts to cater for the South African trade. Il she does, she must cut very seriously into the demand which our exporters have been supplying, to the great benefit of the producers here. Brisbane, Oct. JO. The Courier says the tariff confirms the conviction that the sugar industry is doomed. Great excitement prevails in the north. Many will be utterly ruined by the combination of the tariff and Kanaka Bill. Serious, forbearing men around Cairns are angrily talking of a forcible resistance. Their defiant attitude is most pronounced. Melbourne, Oct. 10.

1 here will be a hard right over the tariil. Revenue tariffists, angered by the Government proposals, will assist to knock everything out over twenty per cent. ()PPOSITION TACTICS. FINANCIAL PROPOSALS FOR STATE GOVERNMENT UNSATISFACTORY. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright Sydney, Oct. 10. The Leader of the Opposition gave notice of motion that in the new tariff proposals of the Commonwealth Government the financial proposals lor the State Government were unsatisfactory. The Premier declined to delay the business by adjourning, and challenged him to proceed with the motion. The debate is now going on. FEELING IN NEW ZEALAND. GRE AT C < INST MR NAT IO N IN WELLINGTON. WILL SERIOUSLY AFFECT TIIE

FARMERS. [Special to Times.) Wellington, last night. Although it was anticipated the new Federal tariff would to some oxtont affect trade between this colony and Australia, the proposals as outlined in the cable messages have caused consternation in various quarters hero. It seems pretty generally accepted that even if the tariff was not expressly framed to exclude New Zealand competition it will of necessity curtail seriously tho trade between this colony and the Commonwealth States. The opinion has been given that in general produce lines it will affect farmers and merchants in the South more seriously than tiiose in the North, and business from that quarter will receive a severe cheek. The North Island will be more particularly affected in such lines as butter, cheese, potatoes, hams, and bacon, duty on which is considered practically prohibitive. The effect on the pork industry will probably be to close up small factories, and the larger ones will have to look to larger markets for their surplus stock. Shipping people consider that it will mean a gradual drop in cargoes carried to Australia, and in the end the result will be that freights will go up. The effect on the export of kauri timber is not known at present, as the cabled information is not quite clear as to the nature of exemptions.

EXPORTS TO AUSTRALIA.

The followin'; wore the exports of New Zealand produce to Australia in 1899 : X Oats ... ... 1*1,71:2 Timber 178 ,899 Cheese 57.98.7 Butter ... ... ••• 57.500 Malt -I l .A.-.:; Wheat H 7.017 Totatoes ... ... ••• 80,894 Flax ... ... ... ... 08,504 Hides ... ... ... 00,700 Tallow ... ... ... 00,009 Wool ‘ 0,7,400 Hops 05,078 Maize 04,017 Meats, preserved and potted 04.100 Bran and pollard ... ... 18,010 Barley 17.007 Oatmeal ... ... ... 10,904 Seeds ... ... ... 15,734 Leather ... ... 14,683 Fish, frozen ... ... ... 10,931 Preserved milk ... ... 9,836 Flour ... ... ... 8.070 Hams ... ... ... 7,8.77 Woollen piece-goods " ... 0,981 Onions ... ... ... 6,876 Fish, potted and preserved... ,7,70.7 Miscellaneous 89,016 1,000,819 Gold 645,850 X 1,646.169 IMPORTS OF COMMONWEALTH V’KOOUVE, Sugar and molasses... ... 118,950 Coal ... ... ... ••• 56.387 Timber 48,417 Manures ... W.ld'O Fresh fruit ... ... 08,888 Lead, sheet ... ••• 17,617 Bark 16.199 Bicveles ... ... 13.881 Wine 15,597 Leather and leatherware ... 15,300 Tin ingots ... ... 11.016 Machinery ... ... 10. m 6 Spirits... 7.880 Salt 7.494 Glass bottles 6.868 Grindery ... ••• 9-ni9 Cordage ... 6.386 Charcoal ... o.HB Horses 1.771 Drugs and druggists' wares 4.105 Furniture ... 8.941 Carriages and carriage materials 3.09-1 Raisins ... ... ••• 8.193 800k5... ... 3-19^ Stationery ... ... 8.008 Metal manufactures ... 0.864 Miscellaneous ... 49.8,0 .£500,099