NATIONAL UNITY

Taranaki Daily News, 1 December 1932, Page 9

NATIONAL UNITY

DOMINION’S GREATEST NEED LESSONS OF OTTAWA. HON. W. D. STEWARTS REVIEW. REVISION OF TARIFFS. “If the ideal of the Ottawa Conference was economic unity for the Empire, how important it is that there should be National Unity in New Zealand. In my opinion we can only overcome the unprecedented difficulties we are facing if all classes, all sections and interests combine to show the necessary courage, patience and willingness to assist their neighbours. Harmony is imperatively necessary if we are to come through this crisis successfully.” These remarks were made toward the conclusion of an address to . the Wellington Manufacturers’ Association On Monday night by the Hon. W. Dowme Stewart, Minister of Finance and Customs. His address was mainly directed -to the Ottawa Conference and an expression of appreciation of the way in which New Zealand manufacturers had responded to the circumstances with which the Dominion was faced. “A FARMERS’ HOLIDAY.” Mr. Stewart recalled that many years ago manufacturers, on a revision of tariffs, said he had butchered them for a ■ farmers’ holiday. They seemed to have survived. Soon afterwards the farmers accused him of being under the heel of the manufacturers. So he had to do his best to: balance things. During the last ten years there had been two major revisions of the tariffs, together with minor revisions. He had tried to do justice all round by taking the long views as he believed they had also done, of the national policy of the country. Speaking of the Ottawa Conference, the Minister expressed his thanks to the manufacturers for the assistance they had given in that direction. They realised that a systematic settlement of this country began 50 years behind Australia, and the earliest stages of development were always agricultural ana pastoral. Industrial life only emerged after rural industries had progressed some distance. Compared with other Dominions, New Zealand was a. small and, : isolated country which had been described as “two small islands lost in the immensity of the Pacific.” It was natural that New Zealand should concentrate on the export of primary produce and raw materials. When the older countries of Europe became industrialised it was supposed that food-producing countries and those countries producing raw materials would find for themselves a permanent and golden future in supplying the growing demands of those great industrial countries. New Zealand had concentrated in one direction with a limited range of exports, and had met serious competitor® in the main markets of the world. The buying power of the main market became very depressed, and the national policy of New Zealand was seriously jeopardised so far as the export of primary products and raw material were concerned. A BROAD VUJW. That was the broad picture when the Ottawa Conference met, said Mr. Stewart. New Zealand manufacturers took a broad,' national view of the situation, and recognised that their duty was to help to sustain the foundations of New Zealand’s national policy, even though it meant sacrifices. It meant efforts, strenuous efforts, to assist the farmers to retain British markets. It was anticipated that large concessions would be expected from New Zealand, but he did not think the Dominion should be called upon to do much, having regard to the heavy preferences given in the past. Tn the result it was true that they were not, called upon to make very heavy concessions at Ottawa. They were a good more restricted than was originally anticipated. Speaking of his meeting with the British representatives at the Conference, the Minister said they expressed the view that they had no desire to press for more than was reasonable and would justify them in granting concessions to New Zealand.. The conference was largely in the nature of an experiment for securing closer economic unity in the Empire. He did not agree with some of the extravagant views that Ottawa was the most important event in the last 100 years. Nor did he share the fears of others that the bargaining and haggling meant the break-up of the Empire. The real value of Ottawa was the frank recognition by each part of the Empire of the aims and ideals of other parts. " " \ REVISION OF .The Minister referred to the hurried manner in which the Ottawa agreement was arranged, and said he thought more flexibility would have been desirable. There was a clause under which no alteration could be made in the . New Zea- ' land tariff without the prior consent of Britain. That appeared to have caused some uneasiness. The revision of tariffs, was for the purpose, of seeing that they, were not more than sufficient to compensate for differences in costs of production, the ideal which had always been aimed at in New lt was finally agreed that the clause be dropped. There was some concern as to whether the revision of the tariffs was likely to prove prejudicial to the New Zealand manufacturers. Personally he thought there was little cause to believe that the inquiry would be any more arduous and difficult than any revision which had taken , place in the past. The tariff would be based on' the principle of compensating for higher wages, but it Would not be in the interests of manufacturers to build up tariff walls so high that competition was completely cut off. Where the industry was not economically conducted, the duty had been removed, and occasion had arisen to remove protection altogether. It had been the view of the New Zealand Government that New Zealand manufacturers were prepared to stand up to reasonable competition. He agreed with the president, Mr. Abel, that "the tribunal should be an impartial one. He was not dogmatic in the matter, and it had yet to be discussed by Cabinet. There was difficulty in finding outside impartial people, who had no vested interests, to do such jobs, and their best course had been to rely upon, their highly trained officials, who had no personal interest in any . particular industry, but an intimate knowledge of each industry, such as the heads of the Customs and Industries and Commerce Departments. The Minister then related in happy vein some personal impressions of men and things at Ottawa, and concluded by making an earnest appeal to all to show the same courage and patience that was shown by our soldiers on the battlefield. Then he was satisfied that, whatever difficulties they had to go through, they would go through them not only in New Zealand but throughout the Empire.