CANADIAN TARIFF

Southland Times, Issue 21192, 19 September 1930, Page 7

CANADIAN TARIFF

HIGHER BUTTER DUTY EIGHT CENTS PER POUND PROHIBITIVE AIR FORBES INTERVIEWED (United Press Assn.—By Telegraph—Copyright.) Ottawa, September 17. Conversations looking toward the formation of a new trade agreement between Canada and New Zealand are in prospect following the arrival to-day of the Hon. G. W. Forbes, Prime Minister of New Zealand. Mr Forbes, who is the guest of the Covernor-Geheral (Lord Willingdon) and Lady Willingdon at Government House, stated in an interview: “I have accepted the invitation of the Canadian Government to enter into conversations with a view to the arrangement of a new agreement and am looking forward to meeting the Prime Minister, Mr Bennett, and his colleagues.” Mr Forbes declared that eight cents per pound duty on New Zealand butter was prohibitive, insofar as the exportation to Canada was concerned, and he hoped an arrangement would be reached whereby some adjustment could be achieved. “But,” he said, “considering that the duty was put on just as we landed in Ottawa the situation does not look too hopeful.” New Zealand, however, Mood prepared to discuss the matter. The policy of New Zealand was to trade with those nations which traded with her and if such nations did not value New Zealand’s business then the Dominion would have to look elsewhere, notably the United Kingdom. If prohibitive duties were imposed on imports from New Zealand, Mr Forbes continued. obviously such a one-sided trade could not continue. New Zealand had to export her produce in order to pay for her imports. Twenty per cent, of the Dominion’s butter export was sold in Canada.

Regarding the decision of New Zealand withdrawing the preference extended to Canadian automobiles, Mr Forbes declared that the Canadian manufacturer still had 15 per cent, preference over the United States. Mr Forbes met Mr Bennett and several Cabinet Ministers earlier in the day. NO DISCRIMINATION REVISED TARIFF SCHEDULES. LIBERAL LEADER’S PROTEST. Ottawa, September 17. Discrimination against any country is conspicuous by its absence in the revision of tariff schedules. Where the rates arc increased they are increased right across the board as regards the general intermediate, and British preference tariffs. The increases in the aggregate are slightly more in the general and the intermediate than in the British preference tariff, but on the whole there is no wide divergency. As a protest against the Government tariff proposals Mr MacKenzie King, Leader of the Liberal Party, to-day moved an amendment to the motion to go into Committee of Ways and Means stating: “The House regrets that 'the Government has seen fit at the special session called to deal only with unemployment proposals and to submit great increases in Customs taxation on a wide range of commodities under circumstances which preclude the House and the country from securing adequate information regarding the proposals and prevent Parliament discussing them. In the opinion of this House the tremendous increases in taxation proposed will not end unemployment, but will inevitably increase the cost of living and also increase the cost of production in the primary industries. agriculture, fishing, mining and lumbering, thus making it more difficult for producers in these industries to meet world competition in marketing their products.”

Speaking on the tariff proposals, Mr King said: “I wish to protest in the strongest language possible against the time at which the amendments to the Customs tariff have been brought down and the circumstances under which they have been introduced." The Government was seeking expedition so that members could go to the Imperial Conference. Common decency and courtesy alone would demand that any changes in the tariff against Empire goods might be left over until after the Imperial Conference. The Mouse to-day read a third time the Government measure to amend the Customs Act in respect to the dumping clause. GOVERNMENT’S I’OLICY THE IMPERIAL CONFERENCE. GOODWILL AND CO OPERATION. (Rec. 7.0 p.m.) Ottawa, September 17. Mr Stevens, Minister of Trade and Customs, continuing the debate in the House of Commons on the tariff changes, said he did not believe in negotiating for a treaty with Australia giving her certain preference in respect to butter then when the first shipment arrived in the country under preference clap on six cents duty. That would be unfair, and from the moment that was done Canada would largely destroy the goodwill of Australia and the friendliness of that country. Mr Stevens declared that members of the Administration were going to the Imperial Conference “with our cards on the table” so that the Governments of New Zealand, Australia, South Africa and the Motherland would know exactly where Canada’s representatives stood. Canada’s delegation was going to the conference in a spirit of goodwill and co-operation to negotiate with the various parts of the Empire and make every effort to include in any agreements made articles beneficial to such countries, but not injurious to Canadian industry and agriculture, with a corresponding agreement in respect to Canadian goods.