THE TARIFF.

Southland Times, Issue 22008, 6 May 1933, Page 7

THE TARIFF.

To the Editor. Sir, —Mr A. E. Robinson, secretary of 3 the Farmers’ Union (Auckland branch) f has written to the Press declaring that t “if the Manufacturers’ Association is 1 prepared to forgo all benefits received - from the State through the Customs > tariff and in other ways,” his execu--3 five “will answer for the farmers that they will do likewise.” Mr Robinson is : apparently unaware that benefit from j the Customs tariff is received, not from , the State, but by the State—£B,B97,ooo , in the year 1930, and £5,904,000 in the > year 1931, in the form of revenue ' which, if the tariff were abolished, i would have to be obtained by some , other means, such as the increase of . Sales Tax to 4/- in the £. As regards i the “challenge,” we regret that we cannot take seriously any assertion by the secretary of the Auckland branch of the Farmers’ Union that his branch executive can “answer” for the farmers of New Zealand. In any case, the New Zealand Manufacturers’ Federation holds that the question of the tariff is one of general national interest, not to be settled by any branch between two sections, but thoroughly investigated and determined on national, not sectional, lines in the interests of the people as a whole.—l am, etc., A. E. MANDER, General Secretary, N.Z. Manufacturers’ Association. Wellington, May 3, 1933.