A PERSISTENT MISCONCEPTION

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 6313, 13 September 1907, Page 4

A PERSISTENT MISCONCEPTION

The belief with which many members entered upon consideration of the tariff—tho belief that they might succeed in getting freetrade for every article save those in the production, manufacture, or manipulation of which they have what may bo called an electoral interest—dies hard. Because the Government, in drawing up tho schedule, made a free list of handsome proportions, and dealt generously with a number of items in the direction of reducing the cost of living, and encouraging manufacture, it is not, and never was, to bo supposed that any change in . the actual fiscal creed of the country was contemplated. The tariff, as-of old, is meant to be chiefly revenue-producing, and in part —that is to say, wherever the application of the principle may be made with a promise of success —to protect and nurture local industries. It would have been tolerably safe, one would think, to accept the assurances of tho Minister of Customs, speaking for himself and his professional advisers, and. of the Colonial Treasurer, who modifies the scheme in accordance with tho colony’s interests' as a whole, that the remissions and additions shown in the new tariff covered all the available ground. A survey of the position from any altitude where the eye would be relieved of parochial obstructions must have shown that, neither the protectionist nor the freetrader could expect to find more standing room than was provided by tho revised schedule. Unfortunately, a standpoint of that height, if nob unattainable by any, has riot been sought by many, otherwise the progress made with the tariff had been much more rapid than it has been. There is no need to refer again to the leading case of mining machinery. The last two days have provided us with additional instances of the persistency with which absurd and untenable theories continue to live after their impossibility has been proved over and over again. One of the latest examples relates to the tea duty. There may be some difference of opinion concerning the place of tea in the domestic budget and its value as a food or stimulant, but, apparently,' all parties are agreed that it is one of the articles that should come in free in bulk. The people do not buy it in bulk, however, but in packets, and the question that remained to be considered yesterday was whether the tariff should foster the local 1 packing industry or deliver it over to the cheap labour of tho East, and that without benefiting the consumer. The House very properly decided in favour of giving employment to our own people, but the tax on packages was strenuously opposed by the freetraders, who, as already explained, would only recognise one element in the tariff. The case of the flour duty is analogous, though it is only fair to say that Mr Hogg, the champion of free flour, deserves at least tho credit of applying the last argument for the adoption by the Government of the happy compromise carried by the Premier on Wednesday night. To the same class also belongs the timber duty, though here again some good will, it is to be hoped, result from the pleading of Mr Massey for fuller protection to the sawmilling industry. • In the interests of the local industry, it would not' do to throw the doors of the colony Wide open to all the Cheap (and sometimes nasty) timbers of the world, but, on the other hand, we should see to' it that some check is put upon the whole-

sale export of New Zealand timber in the log. For many purposes our timber is superior to that produced elsewhere, and there is a ready market in Australia for kauri and kahikatea (or white pine), the last-mentioned'being without rival for butter-boxes; but the Commonwealth, while anxious to subserve tho interests of its dairy industry, will foster the sawmilling trade also, and, though it taxes our sawn timber, will let logs in at a rate which is practically free. The cure is an export duty on logs levied here, and Mr Millar has promised that, if circumstances warrant it, this shall be done.