The Tariff Bill.

Northland Age, Volume 27, Issue 43, 2 November 1927, Page 7

The Tariff Bill.

Speaking djuring the debate on the Customs' Amendment Bill, Colonel Bell (Bey of Blands) said: “I am not going to traverse the whole of the remarks ol the hon. member for Pahiatua, but I cannot allow his statements with regard to dairy machinery and appliances to go unchallenged. I am surprised that after the explanations that have been given, he should have made those statements. The hon member knows that during the last few weeks, a large deputation of farmer members of this House went to the Minister and thrashed the matter out, and that apart from that, therewe esev nlint;r\i wsonthe part ot individual members. One and all were quite satisfied with the explanation made by the Minister that the dairy industry was protected under Section II ot the Bill. Even after further discussion we were just as convinced as ever that the protection was * there. I th nk the first representations that tame down to this House, several weeks ago, were from the Hikurangi Dairy Co., in , my electorate. Alter that the N.Z Co-operative Dairy Association came upon the scene, and made similar representations. 1 have yet to learn that either of these concerns is not satisfied with what has been done. Personally I am satisfied, and I know every member of that large deputation that waited upon the Minister is satisfied also. With regard to the hon. member’s statement as to agricultural implements. I may say that there again the country members discussed the matter very fully, and saw the position that would arise were the very moderate protection suggested taken off. We could see clearly that if that was done, and the business of the implement makers was killed, there were going to be higher prices for the implements that are being imported. That is the reason - why the country members ot this House agreed to the small amount of protection that has been given under the Bill. The hon. member for P.ihidtua also mentioned the question of the pr.iteciion of the timber industry and the further impost that it is going to put upon the producing exporter of this country. 1 realise the position that has arisen with regard to the timber industry. Probably the statement made by the Prime Minister this evening is correct, that they want to re-organise on such lines as will allow them to produce more cheaply. I am not concerned very much with the miller, or with the people who are associated with the Sawfuillers’ Association in this country, but as far as my district is concerned I am concerned for the welfare of the number of men engaged in • the industry. A number of them have already been thrown out of employment, owing to the closing down or the shortening of work at the mills. May I say in passing that the men who are working in the bushes, are some of the finest men in New Zealand It would be very hard to place them in any other occupation than that which they are following at the present time—an occupation in which they are experts. They are men who from boyhood have been practically brought up in the bush. There are many hundreds of them in the Far North even to-day. 1 desire to express my hearty appreciation of the manner in which the Minister of Customs has treated the various deputations of country members, who approached him, and placed the farming point of view before him, not only before the ■ Bill came down, but since, and apart from those deputations, he has receive) honourable members individually, was always willing to listen to their case, and if it m were a good one, to take it into consideration. If he thought it was a proposal that was unfair, he had no hesitation at all in saying what he thought of it, but I am sure that every one apprecithe kind and courteous manner in which the Minister received them. I cannot say, as one representing a larming community, I am sati fled with the Tariff

Bill, and I do not expect that any other farming member is, but we realise the position in which the Government has been placed, and that it has done ils best under the exceedingly difficult conditions which prevail at the present time. So far as the farmer is concerned he is practically forced, owing to the conditions under which he is producing to be a free trader. In fact during the past few days, I have had communications from at least one branch of the Farmer’s Union, asking that I should advocate free-trade out and out. I know that it is impossible. I know that it that request were immediately acceded to, it would mean the closing down of practically every industry in New Zealand, the ruination of thousands of people, and none of us want to see that, but the position so far as the farmer is concerned, is that he is opposed to the further protection on industries, of which he has to bear the greatest share of the burden, and when lie is faced with the position that everything he uses to-day, on the farm is about 58 to 60 per cent higher than it was in 1914, while on the other hand the Official Opposition and manufacturers are clamouring for more protection. The farmer is not going to stand for that, and were it possible to get a further reduction of duties to-day every farmer member in this House would support it. We hope the time will come when we will be able to reduce the Customs duties until the heavy impost which is placed on the producers of the country is done away with. None ot us, however are foolish enough to think or urge that that should be done at once; that would simply bring about a chaotic state. The statement or suggestion was made to-night—l do not know whether by the Leader of the Opposition or not, but it came from that side of the House —that there should be a fusion of town and country. Mr Speaker, there can be no fusion of the interests of town and country while this great disparity exists with regard to protection. On. the one hand you have ihe men who are producing 97 or 98 per cent of the wealth of this country without any protection whatever except in one or two cases, and on the other hand you have a body of men already protected clamouring for further pro tection for the manufactures of the country. While that position exists you can have no kindly feeling, and you have no-hope of any fusion of those conflicting interests. I am not speaking in this way with the idea of keeping them apart or driving them further apart, but am simply trying to state to the House to-night and endeavouring to make cily members understand the position in which the farmer is placed, and the position in which he will remain until we can get a reduction of the heavv burden he is bearing. I am sure that every member of this House would be only too glad t* make further reductions in the tariff as it affects the farming community and others, if it were possible to do so at the present time. But, unfortunately we have tackled this tariff at one of the most difficult periods in the financial history of our little Dominion ; and that has made it a very difficult matter for every member of this House, on' many occasions during the last two or three weak, to decide what was the just thing to do. I want to draw attention also to this fact, that the question of the tariff and the question ot the conditions of work in this country go hand in hand; and as far as the tariff is concerned we are not going to get any satisfaction for the farmer, until the question of the Abitration Court is also dealt with. The two go hand in hand, and I hope that during the next few weeks this Parliament will have an opportunity of dealing with that matter, which is a very vexed question so far as the producer is concerned and one of the heaviest loads he has got to bear to-day, owing to the increases and the numerous a.wards made by the Arbitration Gourt and its failure to take into consideration the question of production when assessing wages

rates. In conclusion, I can only again express my thanks to the Minister for the very kindly treatment he has accorded everybody. It has been a matter for the admiration ot us all to see how he has stood up against the enormous strain of the last few weeks.”