THE FEDERAL TARIFF.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11787, 17 October 1901, Page 5

THE FEDERAL TARIFF.

MR. REID'S SPEECH.

By Telegraph.—Press Association.—Copyright.

Melbourne, October 16. Me. Rsro's speech was hardly up to his usual form or expectations. He usually scores his best points off interruptions. The Government, knowing this, took the precautions to warn their followers not to interrupt. Evidently the Opposition Leader felt the want of a spur.

Mr. Barton will make an effort to get a division on Friday.

ADVERSE GERMAN CRITICISM. Berlin, October 15. The German press adversely criticise the Australian tariff.

THE TIMBER TRADE. Melbourne, October 16. A gentleman prominently connected with the timber trade says the framers of the tariff, when fixing the size for New Zealand white pine at 12 by 6, and above that exempt, were evidently ignorant of the fact that very small quantities of that size are obtainable. The mills have only Australia to look to to absorb the smaller size, as New Zealand cannot. It is extremely improbable that the increased prices necessitated by the duty will be obtainable. Australia wants timber for butter and fruit boxes, and New Zealand •alone can supply it. Can anyone in reason say the duty on white pine is desirable ?

MEETING OF SAWMILLERS,

AN EXPORT DUTY FAVOURED.

A meeting of the Auckland Sawmiilers Association was held yesterday to consider the Premier's telegram, published yesterday, with reference to the Federal tariff as it affects the timber industry. A resolution was carried expressing the opinion of the sawmiilers that if the Federal tariff, as now proposed, is finally accepted, New Zealand should put an export duty on all log and square timber. Messrs. Goldie and Parker were appointed delegates to go to Wellington, and represent the views of the association to the Government. It is possible that the Kauri Timber Company, who have a large establishment in Melbourne, may represent an opposite view to the Government, but all the sawmiilers. whose interests are entirely in New Zealand, are in favour of the proposed export duty.

[J'Y TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.J

Intekcargill, Wednesday.

The Southland Sawmiilers' Union have telegraphed to the Premier urging the desirableness of imposing a sufficiently high export duty 011 baulk timber to secure fiom the Commonwealth just treatment for New Zealand, on the ground that if the proposed tariff become law, the colony will be denuding its forests for the benefit of Australia without securing any compensating advantage.

AUCKLAND CHAMBER OF

COMMERCE.

DISCUSSION ON THE PREMIER'S - TELEGRAM. ■

EVIDENCE OF EXPORTERS TO BE

TAKEN.

At a meeting of the council of the Auck- ] land Chamber of Commerce yesterday, the Premier's telegram, published yesterday, soliciting the views of Chambers of Commerce on the effect of the Federal tariff on New Zealand industries, was read. The Chairman (Mr. D. R. Caldwell) said this was a question they could scarcely deal with offhand. He thought they should either refer the matter to a small committee to get the opinions of those interested in the trades that would be affected by the tariff, or call a public meeting of those likely to be affected, and then report to the Government. Mr. A. H. Nathan said the matter had been freely discussed since the tariff was published, and there seemed no doubt that the tariff was a direct cut at New Zealand. He did not think the Federal Government would take any notice of suggestions New Zealand might send them. It really resolved itself into a question for those who supplied the Australian markets with produce. The classes of goods exported to Australia were few and well known. There were really not many lines exported from the Auckland district to Australia, timber being the chief export, and so far as the timber trade was concerned the Premier had specially asked the advice of the timber exporters. He had no doubt the Premier and the Cabinet knew as well as the Chamber of Commerce what the effect of the high tariff would be on the products of New Zealand. Why the Government had referred the question to the Chambers of Commerce he could not understand, unless it was to shift a responsibility the Government ought to take themselves on to the shoulders of the exporters, who would feel the pinch of the tariff. The Government had asked for advice. What could the Chamber advise in such a matter? Was New Zealand to have a tariff war with Australia., and raise the duties on goods we import from Australia to such an extent as to practically shut those goods out, or should the Government meet this difficulty, which they ought to have foreseen by overtures for reciprocity. Those were the only two ways to meet the crisis. Possibly if the Chamber called a meeting of the exporters interested they would only express their opinion that the tariff would shut their goods out of Australia, and probaoly advise that the Federal Government be asked to reduce the dfities. Unless the New Zealand Government could enter into some reciprocal arrangement with the Commonwealth he saw no way out of the difficulty. Th 3 question was, would the Federal Government be prepared to meet New Zealand by the interchange of products? If not New Zealand must accept the situation. Mr. W. H. Smith moved, "That a public meeting of the exporters interested be called." , Mr. Hugh Campbell thought the other suggestion, that the information be gathered by a small tariff committee, was the best. He did not think they were likely to get very exact information at a public meeting. He moved to that effect. Mr. Smith withdrew his motion, and seconded Mr. Campbell's, which was unanimously carried. The tariff committee was then formed as follows ;—Messrs. Caldwell, W. H. Smith, and Roberton. The committee will take the evidence of exporters and report.