NEED FOR REVISION

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17606, 23 October 1931, Page 8

NEED FOR REVISION

CUSTOMS TARIFF

.-'yU vfc <.*-p 4; ' HEAVY BURDEN ON FARMERS •••■■■'. y p* i l -' y ) ! ; '% O«v * 1 (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, last niglit. Two remits relating to customs tariffs came before r tjjfc anntial conference'of the Associated Chambers of Commerce to-ilfiy.' The ‘first, from Auckland, which discountenanced “major alterations ’ J in the customs tariff witllbht Parliamentary sanction; was lost t>y a. large majority, but the Second, from- Dni'gavillc, urging that tariffs, as they affect primary pro* (iucers, should be revised, was carried enthusiastically. In moving the Auckland remit, Mr. A. M. Seainnn* sail] that'tilc"Government, in May lust, had‘applied a gen - eral tariff’ to practically the'whole of the Dominion’s’Oa’iiadian imports and that action had been taken without tiny opportunity being given to those interested to put forward their case. They felt sure in. Auckland that had the "Government been in a position to obtain the opinions of those affected it would never have taken the action it did.

Mr. H. Turner (Auckland) seconded the adoption of the remit. ■ Mr. W. Bottroll (Canterbury), who was 1 opposed to the mOtioii, Said he thought that .if; there was any department that had 'acted; fairly toward the business people and the community generally, it was the Customs' Department. They had nothing very much to find fault with, ancT the remit sholild not be carried: ;l ‘ The remit was lost. Mr. ,A. E. Harding, in moving the Dafgaville ‘remit, tdifl that, 1 until the farming community was on its feet ; again, Neiv Zealand would hot enjoy prosperity. ’ The worst load tile farm)’ 'ers'had to bear to-day was that iitb posed by the tariff. “Lift this bur;den off the farmers’ backs,” Mr'. Harding said, “ and) by ddihg so, you will earn their undying gratitude.”

A remit, moved by Dr. E. I?: Neale, regretting the ■ Continuance of enacting legislation ;, by*’ Order-in-Council, was adopted. I ‘ Another remit adopted urged the Government'' to make' special- efforts to negotiate and conclude satisfactory reciprocal trade’ agreements with our neighboring' DoMhidnS'bf-'-Cariada and Australia.