TRADE AND TARIFFS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21454, 30 March 1933, Page 13

TRADE AND TARIFFS

Sir, —Your correspondent Mr. E. W. Boulton, of Weymouth, in his letter of March 26, stressed the importance of the removal of restrictions to free trade with Great Britain with a view to holding and, if possible, increasing, the present market which exists for our exports in that country. Although such an action would appear worthy of tho highest consideration I am afraid it would not have the desired effect, and in any case I would consider it advisable to withhold such an action prior to tho enforcement of tho alleviated duties as a result of the negotiations at tho Ottawa Conference. In making this statement, I do so in tho belief that all trade is essentially a matter of supply and demand, and I do not consider it likely that there would be an appreciable increase in demand as a result of a decrease in cost. I am a British subject by birth and, having lived tho greater portion of my life in England, I naturally would approve of any actions which would increase the friendship which exists between New Zealand and Great Britain, but I firmly believe that in the loss of revenue by the abolition of present duties, the national burden, which is at present being borne by the employers of labour, would become even more intolerable. Lucien D. Blackburn.