A DUAL CAPACITY

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LII, Issue 17130, 4 September 1926, Page 5

A DUAL CAPACITY

MINISTER'S PREDICAMENT TARIFF FROM TWO POLES FARMERS' FEARS DESCRIBED (Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, this day. .The* Minister of Lands, the Hon. A. D. McLeod, who is also Minister of Industries and Commerce, contributed his view to the tariff discussion in the House last night, disclosing the fact ' that he fully appreciated the Ministerial positions in which interests might clash. Any wholesale increase in the tariff which entirely ignored the position of the primary producer would be extremely dangerous, said Mr. McLeod. He had no reason to criticise the requests made for further protection for • secondary industries, because if New Zealand was destined to hecome a great country it would be by largely increasing its industries until we became an exporting country for manufactures. Any effort, by the .producer to fix the prices of his produce must fail, and was strong. , ly resented, but the producer knew that largo combines fixed the prices of the main articles lie had to buy. The farmer possibly exaggerated the position, and a lot of education would have to be provided before New Zealand could materially add to her protective duties. The percentage of town population was «%, 56, and there was a danger that it would further increase if higher protection were afforded to secondary industries. " WHICH MINISTER?

Mr, D. G. Sullivan: Is it the Minister of Lands speaking, or the Minister of Industries? , Mr. McLeod: I am holding a dual capacity, and find a difficulty in bringing together the contending interests. 1 say definitely that so far as the primary producers are concerned they would like to feel that if prices are not going up against them for the hundred and one things they use on the farm they will not be against protection, but experience shows that with every move in tariff the cost is increased against- them, and they become? sceptical about the position. The Minister added that he had looked into the motor position, and was quite satisfied that New Zealand could give an even greater amount of protection in favor of British cars. In any case there were sufficient second-hand cars in New Zealand to keep us going for twelve months, which would,enable us to live •within our means.