TARIFF RECIPROCITY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20288, 22 June 1929, Page 17

TARIFF RECIPROCITY.

TRADE IN THE EMPIRE.

CONFERENCE PROPOSED. HAPHAZARD CONCESSIONS. [BY TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT.] WELLINGTON. Friday. "A matter that might woll receive the early attention of the New Zealand Government, is the advisability of approaching the Imperial authorities as to tho possibility of holding' an Empire conference to consider more logical and more scientific customs tariff arrangements between the outlying Dominions, tho Crown colonies and the Mother Country," said Sir George Ellf&t, in his address at the annual meeting of the Bank of New Zealand to-day. "Although, tariff concessions or preferences aro granted by the overseas Dominions on goods manufactured wholly or partly in the United Kingdom and the United Kingdom makes customs concessions on certain products grown in the Dominions and Crown colonies, all these concessions are haphazard and voluntary and not considered negotiated concessions. It seems necessary that reasoned agreements should now be arrived at. Indeed, such a proceeding is of great importance to the United Kingdom as woll as to the British Dominions overseas. From an Empire point of view this qucstiou calls for early scientific treatment and adjustment. v.. ' Duties on Foreign Foods. "If the British Government could see its way to reduce existing duties on certain products, and impose small duties on foreign-grown beef, mutton, lamb, fruit, butter, wool, etc., not only would substantial benefits accrue to British farmers, who are at present experiencing a particularly lean time, but Empire settlement would be accelerated, lands now lying idle would bo brought into cultivation, unemployment both in the United Kingdom and in the overseas Dominions would be reduced and emigration from the Old Country stimulated. Moreover," tho cost of living in Great Britain would not' be increased if the total amount of customs duties now collected remained at the same level but was dispersed over a wider range of articles. Similarly the Dominions might re-adjust their customs concessions to the Motherland without atlding to the burdens of the people. Eventually it is certain some such adjustments will be made. There is every reason why they should be made now. Free Trade Impracticable. ''Universal free interchange of goods would undoubtedly be the ideal condition, but it is apparent that the world is not ready for this ideal condition, for customs tariffs in many foreign countries aro gradually but surely being raised —Geneva economic conferences notwithstanding. As a consequence the trade of the United Kingdom is being so restricted that she will 'gradually be forced more and more to look to lier kith 'and kin across tho seas for the purchase of her manufactured articles, and the surest way to obtain a larger portion of the colonial trade would be by an adjustment of customs tariffs. "The idea of Great Britain and her dependencies some day merging into one harmonious whole with neve? a tariff wall between any of its members is a dream which, in our day and generation at least, will not be realised. Distances aro great and maritime transit sometimes dangerous; it is well, therefore, in the meantime that the protection of a customs barrier has made the manufacture of necessities a possibility in tho outlying Dominions. "Although free trade between the members is as yet impossible, an intelligent adjustment of customs tariffs giving /to each separate unit a certain measure of protection against foreign trade competitors would go far toward making this great .community of nations a still more united and prosperous Empire." .