FARMERS AND TARIFF.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19567, 21 February 1927, Page 14

FARMERS AND TARIFF.

OPPOSITION TO INCREASE. A MORRINSVILLE PROTEST. [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] MOIIRINSVILLE. Saturday. Speaking at a meeting of the Morrinsville branch of the Farmers' Union, Mr. J. E. Leeson said the union leaders were out to obtain free trade, but with the present voting strength of the towns he did not see any possibility of success. Ho moved that the branch protest strongly against any increase in the tariff that would add to the' farmers' burden. If they devoted their strength and energy to that, he added, they would do more good than by trying to get rid of the tariff wall at once. The tariff yielded £8,000,000 a year and if they got rid of that he knew where the bulk of the money would bo found. The farmers, said the speaker, had to pay artificial wages on colonial Conditions for protected industries, but they had to sell their produce, not on the colonial scale, but on the conditions ruling in European countries, which had much lower expenses than New Zealand. The Danish farmer, compared with the New Zealander was on velvet, because of the different producing conditions. The American farmers and also the Australians under the Paterson scheme, were on a much better wicket than those in New Zealand. Even the Siberian dairymen were better off than the New Zealander when expenses were compared. They, therefore, should have no increase in the tariff. Mr. M. E. Barrowclough seconded and tho resolution was carried unanimously.