PROTECTIVE TARIFFS

Waikato Independent, Volume XXIX, Issue 3104, 29 June 1929, Page 5

PROTECTIVE TARIFFS

PROPOSED MANUFACTURERS’ BOARD. WARNING TO FARMERS. Tho proposed setting up pf a Manufacturers’ Development of Industries Board, as referred to recently in the f Auckland. Press, was the subject for some caustic comments by Mr. R. H. Foisst at the monthly meeting of tho Farmers’ Union yesterday. Mr. Feisst opened by saying that the question of protective tariffs was one of the most vital before the Dominion as a whole to-day. Twentylive years ago it was a more easy matter for secondary industries to get increased protection. In earlier years the primary producing interests were not fully seized with the danger and effeet of increasing protection, because exports values were high. However, today there has been a check in such values, and the secondary industry interests'were finding it more difficult to get increasel protection, and so the manufacturers were seeking other Ways and means than through the medium ofthe Government’s co-operation. Only recently the Auckland manufacturing interests were in collaboration with the executive, but the outcome was a failure apparently to impress the manufacturers that they came second to the primary producing interests. When the primary export values were increased it benefited everybody, but when the values of other industries’ efforts were increased it did not have the same benefit generally. Mr. Feisst stressed the fact that they should be alive and oppose the stating up of anything in the nature qf a tariff board, for this was at the bottom of the manufacturers’ latest move. It was a dangerous movement from the farmers’ viewpoint. At the present time protection could only be obtained by sanction of the Government, but the danger was that with a board in operation it might tend to encourage the Government to shelve its responsibility. It would be a very grave mistake if farmers sat still and allowed the Board to be set up as suggested. It had been called the “Industries Development Board,” but whatever name it was given, .it could be taken for granted that its move, would be towards the obtaining of increased tariffs without having to wait a long period while their proposals went through the hands of the Government. “If the manufacturers were not out for greater protection than what were they after?” said Mr. Feisst. ' He felt that they should take strong exception to the setting up of a Tariffs Board. He was not opposed to the setting up of a tribunal that would be so constituted that the interests of all would be ’equally considered. However, when one saw a board being set up with three members from the manufacturers’ interests and two from the Government it was hypocrisy to say, as they had done, that they were not out for protection of industries. It was a ease of setting up an intermediate machine so that the manufacturers ’ desires would not nee'd to go before the Government.- ' '• r-

The ffiatter was discussed at some length, and finally the following resolution was carried, bn the motion of Messrs. H. A. Watkins and J. J. Bridgman; —“That this branch makes strong protest against the setting up of a tariff board, and considers that all matters dealing with alterations to tariffs be by Parliament.”

It was decided that the resolution be sent to the Prime Minister, to the Auckland Provincial Union, and to all branches asking for their support.