Binder Twine in Victoria.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5052, 11 September 1894, Page 4

Binder Twine in Victoria.

♦ The binder twine controversy has been vigorously carried on in Victoria. The argument, it may be explained again, waß es to the relative priceß charged and to be charged by the colonial manufacturer?, and, by a peculiarly philanthropic body styling itßelf the Eeaper and Binder Importers' Association. The local twine-makers pointed to the fact that since they began operations, the price of the product had been materially reduced. The importers urged that "the poor farmers" should no longer pay an iniquitous duty, and offered, if the farmers would only set about getting that dnty repealed, to "go one better " than the colonial manufacturers in price. The twine-makers, for answer, called attention to the importers' primage duty declaration that reapers and binders coßt only £26 each to land, whereas they took good care to make "the poor farmers" pay £65 apiece for them last year. Following this up, some of those interested wrote to New Zealand for information and ascertained that between the prios charged by the Victorian "ring" and the open market price in this colony there was a difference of no les3 than .£20." Meanwhile, the farmers had begun to take action upon the appeal made to them by the philanthropic importers. The bucolic mind, it is sometimes said, is like the tortoise as to movement, bub one generally finds that, like the tortoiee, it "gets there " some time or other. One of the farmers' unions haß given its answer, short and to the point :— " It does not approve of having the duty on binder twine abolished." The arguments were these :— "Abolition of the duty might mean oheaper twine for a year, but the price would soon go up again, a& the importeis wonld form a ' ring ' in that aa in the case 0! the binders." Oae speaker said " there was a likelihood of flax-growing becoming a profitable occupation, and he himself intended to try. some as an experiment." Yet another said— "He believed in manufacturing in the country whatever could be made, so aa to find work for our own people, even if the article should cost a trifle more." This last expression of opinion may very well be commended to the thoughtful consideration of the people of New Zealand.