TARIFF AND THE FARMER

Taranaki Daily News, 5 July 1929, Page 14

TARIFF AND THE FARMER

UNABLE TO PASS COSTS ON MR. W. J. POLSON URGES REVISION IMPERIAL PREFERFENCE NEEDED (By Wire —Parliamentary Reporter.) Wellington, Last Night. Some interesting references to questions on tariffs as they affect the farmer were made by Mr. W. J. Polson (Stratford) in the House of Representatives to-night. He said he knew it was of no use to suggest abolishing tariffs as it was too late. The country had embarked on a policy of moderate protection and it was bound to maintain it. They had to see, however, that no increase in the tariff was brought about in such a way as would bring hardship to the people. Tariffs fell exceedingly hard on the primary producer, because he could not pass anything on as the business man could. He had to accept world prices for his produce. If industry was to be protected it must be efficient. “I am afraid,”-said Mr. Polson, “that the tariffs in this country are protecting inefficient industries.” They had some proof of that in the report recently published in regard to the boot industry, where it was found that by better organisation 12J per cent, could be saved in the working of the factory. He was afraid that figure must be greatly exceeded in the case of some other concerns which were not so efficient. Industries were started with the help of a protective tariff to enable them to get on their feet, but he had never heard of a case where a tariff was removed when the industry had got on its feet. The result was that in some eases they had a premium placed on inefficiency. The time had come for some properly constituted tribunal to deal with the tariff

Mr. Polson regretted that no hint had been given in the Governor-General’s Speech as to the mind of the Government on the subject of Imperial preference. It seemed to him that there was more to be hoped for in the direction of Imperial preference than in any other direction in connection with tariff reform. He was satisfied that it would be possible, by means of Imperial preference, to arrive at bargains between the various Dominions which would be to their mutual advantage. America and other countries were erecting tariff barriers, and until the Dominions learned the lesson from that they would not get ahead as they should