FALLACY OF FREE TRADE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20086, 25 October 1928, Page 15

FALLACY OF FREE TRADE

"THE DOCTRINE OF CRANKS." NO AID TO PROSPERITY. VIEWS OF MR. ALLEN BELL. [J!V TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] j KAITAIA, Wednesday. Speaking at the Princess Theatre, Kaitaia, Mr. Allen Bell, Reform candidate for Bay of Islands, said ever since ho returned to New 'Zealand 26 years ago he had taken an active part in opposing an increase in tho tariff and during the past six years, in which he represented the Bay of Islands in Parliament, he had consistently advocated against it. The new customs tariff which came into forco on July 1 last would result in further relief being given. The Dominion, and the farming class specially, was vitally affected by the critical conditions following the war, but happily tho times were changing, although the agricultural and manufacturing industries required earnest attention. However, Mr. Bell was firmly convinced that the royal road to improvement was not to bo found in free trade, which would admit a flood of commodities from countries where low wages and a low standard of living prevailed, but in a gradual reduction in taxation and tariffs. The land could not carry any further load, continued Mr. Bell. In fact, it was incapable in many districts of carrying tho present load. The farmers' position must bo improved by tho reduction of local and general taxation, further reductions in the tariff, smaller and more productive farms, adequate finance and organisation of distribution. The prosperity of the Dominion largely depended on being able to support a much larger population. The Government was materially assisting toward this highly desirable end by assisting in tho development of hydro-electricity, in which no less than £24,000.000 of Government and public body money was already invested, and millions more had to bo spent. This huge expenditure was being made for the purpose of assisting the farming and manufacturing classes and would bo a dead loss if the advocates of free trade in the immediate future held sway. "Our object must be," said Mr. Bell, in conclusion, "to place the farming community of New Zealand in the same position with regard to emoluments and necessary comforts as all other sections of tho community, to encourago their boys and girls_ to remain on the farms, instead of rushing off to tho cities. "That object is not lo be attained by the adoption of free trade at once, even within our Empire. The people who are preaching that doctrine are cranks and -idealists, devoid of a practical mind, and they are endeavouring to mislead the farmers of this Dominion by pointing out the great benefit free trade has conferred on England. They conveniently fail to point out that when England adopted free trade she was the only great manufacturing country in the whole civilised world and that under these conditions free trade was probably the best policy which sho could adopt, but as years wont on and Germany, Austria, Italy and other great countries came into tho manufacturing market conditions changed. > "I am told on most reliable authority that it will be only a few years before England is forced to adopt a moderate tariff. In fact, she has already passed legislation providing for the safeguarding of several of her industries which wero being subjected to unfair foreign competition by imposing a duty on certain articles of 33 per cent.", THE MARSDEN ELECTORATE. SUPPORT FOR MR. W. JONES. [BV TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] WHANGAREI, Wednesday. The Reform candidate for tho Marsden seat, Mr. ,W. Jones, had a successful meeting at Ruakaka last evening when ho addressed 80 electors. Mr. T. Wilson presided. At the conclusion of his address Mr. Jones received a hearty vote of thanks and continued confidence, on the motion of Mr. F. Pilbrow, seconded by Mr. C. Chapman. Mr. A. J. Murdoch, United Party candidate for the Marsden seat, addressed a meeting of electors at Portland last night. There was a fair attendance and Mr. D. T. Forbes presided. Several questions were answered and the candidate was accorded a voto of thanks.