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Hokitika Guardian, 7 June 1930, Page 4

The report of the National Dairy Association, to be presented at Hamilton at the annual meeting on June 24th. draws attention to the many industries in New Zealand under the shelter of a tariff wall resulting in extra costs to the primary producer and hot only in the price of the article hut also in added costs of labour bv the establishment of' an artificial standard, Referring to secondary industries, the report stated that comment is necessary on the increasing demands being made for extra consideration of the Dominion’s secondary industries. Appeals had been made to the primary producer to do his part in relieving unemployment, but a response from primary producers as a whole was impossible. Two obsta le> were in the way. The first'was smaller returns from production and the second was the high price of labour. The primary producer, however, was not against the establishment of secondary industries which were required by the Dominion’s state of economic development. It was felt, on the other hand, that if the primary produce! wo e to be urged to increase production lie was entitled to ask the Government not to shackle his hands in facing that husk. In too many cases tariff burdens and Arbitration Court award.? were acting as a burden on the primary producer, and these conditions had to cease before material development of the land could be made. For the farmer to compensate for the low price of butter and cheese, the report continues, it would he necessary to exploit to the full the possibilities of by-products ,sucli as pigs and 'poultry. The farmer was faced, however, _ with a high tariff duty on cereal pig foods. Comparison is made with Denmark showing how cheaply pig foods could be imported there and the consequent large exports that are made. The same applied in a lesser degree to the poultry industry. Foodstuffs were again too dear and the time had arrived for primary producers to demand the abolition of restrictive and unnecessary tariff's. Big as was New Zealand’s industry, adds the report, it was relatively small on a world basis, and if the Dominion was to compete successfully with other countries it was necessary to kjeep up to date with all modern appliances. Here again duties were unfortunately nigh. The report concluded by stating that New Zealand’s markets were limited and there was no possibility of developing any special industry to ihe point of becoming a world factor. Tl:e country’s progress was wrapped up in the future of primary industry.

and it had to be seen that sentiment directed towards secondary industries did not inflict a burden of a progressive character on the primary producers.