TARIFF PROBLEMS

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 27 September 1927, Page 5

TARIFF PROBLEMS

A BUSY MINISTER. FREQUENT DEPUTATIONS. MANY CONFLICTING INTERESTS. BY TELEGRAPH—SPECIAL TO THE STAR. WELLINGTON, Sepfc. 26. As the Minister for Customs, the Hon. W. Downie Stewart has been the hardest-worked member of Cabinet since the publication af the proposed tariff changes. Protest deputations have been following on each other’s heels, day after nay, from 'sections who be ieve they are likely to be prejudiced by the alterations, while maamifactueris have made a general complaint of insufficient protection for New Zealand’s struggling industries. Mr Stew ait has listened patiently to all, but indicates by his questions that he is anxiously following the hearing of this deputations’ .argument upon the fundamental policy behind his revisions that o f giving greater preference to our best customer, Britain, and endeavouring to avoid further taxation through Customs. Mr Craig, Chief Controller of Customs and chairman of the Tariff Commission. is constantly in attendance at the Minister's office to adivisel on the great volume of re presentations flowing in bv telegram, letter and deputation. The Minister of Agriculture, the Hon, O. J. Hawken, has also, load to be called into consultation, owing to the direct- bearing of some of the controversial points upon the farming industry. The Customs Minister, judging by his replies to some deputation®, is ino’iinjed to rely on the solid farming majority in Parliament to preserve his policy, as he realises that there is a latent bodv of opinion. favouring it, though the objectors have naturally been more active and vocal. So many points are due for consideration that it is expected that the House will not have an opportunity to commence considering the amounts till next week. FARMING INTERESTS CLASH.

A deputation, significant of the difficulties involved in tariff adjustmient, came from the Gisborne lmaiize. growers 10-riav, supported by the Hon. K. S. Williams (Bay of Plenty), Mr O. E. McMillan (Tauranga), Mr F. F. Hockly (Rotorua), Mr .W Jones (Marsden), Mr W . Eysaiar (Gisborne), Sir Apirani Ngata (Eastern Maori). it was stated by Mr J. B. Kell®, one of the maize growers, that 80 or 90 Poverty Bay maize growers had) discussed thei hew tariff and they viewed the proposed reduction dn duty on maize with alarm, because they felt that they could not compete against the coloured labour of South Africa. .Maize was the only exportable _ product of these is,rowers owing to climatic conditions.

The Minister: “How did you get on when tins duty was only 6d?” Mr Kells: ‘ ‘They managed to struggle along, but- the costs have increased. ’ The Minister: “And so has the cost of maize. The price was 4s ll£d per bushel in 1922. when the duty was increased, and it went up to 7s 6d in 1922-1926. Protection has not decreased the prices.” Mr Hocklv remarked that it was unprofitable ro grow maize- under- 6s Id 1 . A South African cargo was being landed in Auckland at 5s 3d. Mi- Kells assured the Minister that any reduction in duty wo did be a great .midship to the small growers He was sure that 500 acres of adaitional land would be cropped for maize this s^aison. Mr (J. Withers, dealing with the Tariff Board’s criticism that increased lutv had not meant increased production,- said that the increased duty came, in too late in the season to give an additional crop in 1925-26. .The following year showed an -appreciable rise, but as maize was a late crop it w a® impossible to assess its production on March 31. Tliev couid not grow maize under 4s 6d. The actual cost was 4s on the farm. . Even with the duty as it- was, the margin was small. Ass'um;mi the pig grower got maize at 4s, would work be cheaper? He sympathised with the Minister’s impossible task of oiAttinc things even all round. Mr Stewart: “This is qnitei easy compared with some problems.” Mr Lysnar declared that the; present duties liad not boon tried long enough to show results. He wa.s satisfied that if the industry was left- • ai'tome New Zealand would R- self-supporting in res pec t to maize. The Hon. K. S. Williams supported the deputation’s case, assuring thei Minister of Customs that the matter was more important because a Targe number of small fan-mens were relying mainly on maize. After consultation with the members, Mr Stewart rep'ied that the deputation obviously had powerful friends in the House and the Ministry, and so far as he wa® concerned, it would be a question for the farmers in the House to determine which they considered the most important interest-. The general view was that exported products were the most- important. According to the Gisborne Chamber of Commerce, maize could be landed in store at Gisborne at 4s Id. while the cheapest- Javan maize could not l>e landed under 6s lid per bushel. It was -peculiarly a farming problem and if the members interested in the pig and poultry industry could come, to an. arrangement with representatives of the maize interests. it won d prevent a conflict in Parliament. Air Hocklev stated that a conference on* these line® Rad taken place and he believed the pig raisers would agreo to a retention of the present duty, if ground maize came in free. These negotiations were being, continued. _ The l members langliinglv .suggested that if the farming members got the .duty on maize retained they agree to 10 per cent, increase on boots. Air Hockey: “We can’t eat boots.”