TARIFF POLICY

Stratford Evening Post, Volume II, Issue 238, 9 May 1933, Page 2

TARIFF POLICY

o Criticism of New Zealand

LONDON BUSINESS MAN Criticism regarding New Zealand's tariff policy, especially in its application to British articles, was made by Mr. W. J. Weeden, a London business man who has spent six months in the Dominion, at yesterday's luncheon of the New Plymouth Rotary Club. He remarked that the Minister of Finance could not be charged with undue haste in attempting to bsing New Zealand into line with the clauses of the Ottawa agreement. Mr. Weedcn was welcomed by the club president, Rotarian T. C. List, who said the visitor had up till recently been associated vith a London business with world-wide ramifications. He had previously addressed the club and, after some months in New Zealand, he had confuted to give some brief impression. Qi the Dominion. Sin.i he arrived he had received a fairly extensive education in farming matters, said Mr. Weeden. He believed jbe would'be in a better position to understand New Zealand's problems in the [future. "So English is New Zealand that I cannot realise that I am really out of England," continued Mr. Weeden. "One can be very lonely in countries much closer to England than New Zealand is, but in their cities the language is a foreign one. Here the visitor is welcomed in his own language and is met in such a kindly and hospitable manner that it is difficult indeed to realise that one is not in just another part of England. While I have some comparisons to make, I do not wish you to think I make them in an unkind spirit." LIVING COSTS COMPARED. Referring first to the cost of living in New Zealand as compared with the same costs in Britain. Mr. Weeden said there were no complaints regarding die price of foodstuffs and he wished they were as cheap in Britain. Other prices Were far too high in the Dominion. Generally speaking, they were 50 to 100 per cent, highei than the prices of similar articles at Home. He mentioned a wellknown make of motor-car, and said the catalogued price of one model was £265 in New Zealand.

"The reasons for tho advance in price have been given mo.'* said Mr. Wccrlen. "In spite of such explanation, I feel the j difference is too great. Duty amounts i to 211 per cent., I believe, and it this I high duty, especially when applied to British articles, that has unfavourably impressed me." It was acknowledged that Britain was i not only New Zealand's biggest cus- | tomer but was practically the Domin- ! ion's only market, he continued. In 1 view of that he could not' understand i the mounting duties on British articles. Before he left England, delegates to the Ottawa Conference had arrived at certain agreements which, as soon as they were ratified by the different Parliaments, were designed to give preference to Nw Zealand dairy produce at Home and to British articles in the Dominion. "New Zealand has so far done nothing to revise her tariffs," Mr. Weeden said. "Quite recently I understand the Minister of Finance (the Hon. J. G. Coates) announced that a committee was lo be set up with a view to reorganising the tariffs if it were found the English manufacturer did not have a reasonable opportunity of disposing of his articles. If the manufacturers had a reasonable opportunity of doing so there would have been no need for the Ottawa agreements. Your Minister of Finance cannot be charged with undue haste in taking action in the matter." The agreements made at Ottawa were for a period of three years, continued Air. Weeden. However, they would have to come up for revision after two years. While the sentiment existing in England towards New Zealand was second to none when compared with any other of the colonies, it had to be realised that unless there was a market in New Zealand for her manufactured articles, such sentiment was bound to suffer. England was purely a manufacturing coun- ; try, and she had to have markets in the colonies whose produce she was takin. He was afraid there would bo plain speaking on the subject, especially from Labour candidates, at the next general election at Home. He hoped there would be tariff changes when the committee had investigated the position. Rot, - m H. Baily thanked the speaker on behalf of the club. He mentioned that foreign countries had to pay more in duties thai. Britain.