IMPRESSIONS OF HOME

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8330, 16 January 1913, Page 10

IMPRESSIONS OF HOME

PREFERENTIAL TRADE. In an interview yesterday, the Hon. J. R. Sinclair said that his visit to the Old Country had been a very, profitable experience, as it generally was to anyone from the Dominion. Speaking of preferential trade, he held the view that this subject should not be approached from a party standpoint, but the question to be decided was what were they able to do for the people in the way of preference in our own markets? He pointed out that the British consumer was more heavily taxed than the New Zealander, more particularly the poorer classes. For instance, there was a, uniform duty of 4d per lb on tea, with duties on cocoa, sugar, and such articles used in the ordinary breakfast. The poorer people, who bought cheaper and inferior brands of tea, paid an amount of taxation wholly disprofwrtionato to that paid by the rich man, who for the same duty consumed superior brands of tea. Many of these articles were free in New Zealand. BURDENS OF TAXATION.

The people of Great 'Britain would not tolerate burdens of taxation which involved an. increase in the duties on food, nor did they think the overseas Dominions would ask for such taxes, in connection with tariff reform. Nevertheless, Mr Sinclair thought that a tariff readjustment, involving the imposition of a small tax on wheat, would not necessarily prove burdensome to the people of Great Britain, but would rather assist the agricultural industry. He remarked upon the contrast provided by England in regard to agriculture, there being large areas of pastoral'lands that contrasted with the intensely cultivated fields of France and Italy. It was only fair to point out, however, that climatic conditions had something to do with the disparity. There were more bad seasons, and the conditions were generally harder. HOUSE OF COMMONS. Mr Sinclair naturally went a good deal to the House of Commons, and took a keen interest in the debates. Ho was struck by the paucity of attendances even when important party questions were under discussion. Often one side oflhe House showed a very meagre attendance, and were evidently interested only in their own speakers. He heard a number of fine speeches delivered during debates on recent legislation, but he was constantly impressed with the sparse attendance of opposing members.