TARIFF REFORM.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 12748, 27 April 1912, Page 2 (Supplement)

TARIFF REFORM.

RECIPROCITY WITH AUSTRALIA. "While iii' th^-Soi>th, recently," the Hon. G. Laurenson iriformeel" a .Post reporter, "I found a'^ery' strori|; feeling iri favor of a reciprocal tariff with Aust tralia. There is one -noteworthy • feature m connection Avith the . .matter,'.' he added. "The CdmmonAreaith last yeaimported nearly £500,000 Avorth of agricultural ■i_fipletoe_its."f--Wh-Ie itMs ;»d---riiitted that articles 'S'ueh- aS reapers and biriders can be made cheaper, aiid better m f other countries, "the bulk 6i : the "balance of agricultui*--*. implements can- -be made cheapk-i'and' better in' NeAV Zealand than ''inrany* othec .part ', of the Ayorld. I am to implements suited for. agriculture, m Australia arid New Zealand:; '' Previous to-the'federa-tion of the Australian -States there was a very large lOjcport- trade jbetAveen Nbav Zealand, and Australia ,m -„ agricultural implements,' _but since the. iriugur*_tion of the Coinirioi-Aveal-l- the Austfaliaii tariff lias practically Closed the door :to that trade. Among other '.things, dredgirig machinery us^d to be exgprted lir^ely from Otago, 'but noAv the position' h&S. been reversedi -and 'dredging 'riiachiiies are being 'imported .'into*;: New 'Zealand from Australia. . Australia,. .in ifac^ i% •building up a very fine industry undfer tariff, Arhile, New Zealand; is practically uriablo -to eoriipete foi* 'some ; 'portions *of her oavii trade. The . feal :-d-fliculty •'' i_ -hat N6av .Zealand ihas.^so few . articlesthat Aye can, .take tjie duty off .by'Avay.of reciprocity .Avith Australia, witli tlie •exception of timber arid wirie, arid- it"Avill' ; riot be easy 'to arrarige a tariff .beneficial to both countries. The matter \vill be seriously considered and hfotiglit befbfe Cabinet, Avith a,,yieAv tp definite action being taken;" 1 ■v . - - - * " "- '■'■*"