CANADIAN CUSTOMS TARIFF

Otago Witness, Issue 3183, 17 March 1915, Page 15

CANADIAN CUSTOMS TARIFF

I EXTRA DUTIES ON NEW ZEALAND PRODUCE. j EFFECT ON EXPORTS OF BUTTER, j The Canadian Government has recently •revised its tariff, and has decided to put a surcharge on New Zealand produce imported into Canada to the extent of 5 per I cent, ad valorem. Interviewed on the question by a northern paper, Mr J. G. Harki ness, of Wellington, manager and secretary of the National Dairy Association, who has just returned from Vancouver and San ! Francisco, after a short business trip, said that under the preferential agreement with I Canada there was a fixed duty on New ! Zealand butter of 3 cents —equal to l|d —.per ; lb. As New Zealand butter was to-day j worth probably 30 cents c.i.f.e., or Is 3d ; per lb, the. imposition- of the new ad j valorem duty meant that the total duty on 1 the butter was now 4-i cents per lb, an increase of lg cents. “ The duty is going to bo a big handicap, especially to New Zealand butter,” said Mr Harknees, “ and will in like measure affect other exports from. New Zealand to Canada.” The imposition of the new tariff, Mr Harkness added, meant that the Canadian producer was given additional protection; New Zealand producers might have to reduce the price of their butter. “.From inquiries made in various directions,” Mr Harkness continued, “ I am inclined to the opinion that the State of California will not be a good market for New Zealand butter. The possibilities in connection with the State are very great, and if the farmers and the settlers turn their attention to dairying they will probably bo able to produce sufficient for their own requirements for some years to come. Van- ! couver, in mv opinion, is a different propo- | sition. New Zealand butter has a first-class j reputation there, and there should be a i consistent demand for a ..certain quantity, which, unfortunately, the new duty may to a considerable extent restrict.” Mr Harkness concluded by remarking that ho thought the new ad valorem duty had been added to tire fixed duties to meet the expenditure in connection with the war. Possibly it would not be permanent. Mr J. R. Scott, of Dunedin, secretary of the South Island Dairy Association, was on the 11th shown the opinion above quoted, and asked for his views on the statements contained therein. Mr Scott said that the imposition of the extra duty on butter was possibly, as Mr Harkness had stated, a form of raising war revenue. However, he thought it was absurd for our dominion to talk about any other countries putting duties on any products when wO had heavy duties on butter (3d per lb), cheese (3d), hams (2d), bacon (2d), Hour, apples, grapes, and, in fact, on about everything we produced. Mr Scott said these duties were practically no use to farmers as protection, and were ho a farmer ho would go for freetrade in these, as in all things, as the best policy, and have all Customs tariffs abolished. Continuing, Mr Scott said: “ If, as 1 believe, we have built up a good trade in butter with Vancouver, it is built up mainly on quality; and, this being the case, tjio extra igd will bo paid by the Canadians, and there is no need for us to lower our i price, especially as London will always take ; our best butter at any time and in any 1 quantity at prices not far short of what can bo got from Canada under any circumstances. Britain puts no Customs tariffs on anything. I agree with Mr Harkness I that there is not likely ever to bo much in the San Francisco-Californian trade in butter. Groat Britain will be more and more our steadiest and best market.” NEW FREEZING WORKS. PEILDING, March 12. I The shareholders in the Oroua Freezing j Works held a meeting to-day and unanimously resolved to give the directors authority to proceed with the erection of

freezing works when 35,000 shares were allotted. The meeting was enthusiastic, many shareholders immediately doubling their number of shares. During the day the number required to reach 35,000 shares were applied for. Land is already purchared, and the directors will proceed at once with the erection of works.