TARIFF EFFECTS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 90, 18 April 1938, Page 11

TARIFF EFFECTS

INCREASE IN PRICES IMPORTS' FROM BRITAIN OBJECTION BY FARMERS. PROTEST MEETING HELD. Specific instances of the effect of the recent revision of the tariff on the cost of various lines of imported footwear were quoted by Mr. E. E. Kitchener, on behalf of the Bureau of Importers, at a meeting of farmers at East Tamaki last night. Mr. P. G. Wyman presided over an attendance of about 100 people, inclyding farmers from neighbouring districts. The meeting expressed in resolutions its opposition to tariff increases on British goods. Dominion Manufacturers’ Rates. Mr. H. W. Shove, president of the Auckland Manufacturers' Association, said that there had been no increase in the price of footwear from the biggest New Zealand manufacturers to the shops since the tariff revision. He mentioned that he was president of the New Zealand Footwear Manufacturers’ Federation, and said he would facilitate an investigation into this subject. The meeting appointed Messrs. Wyman, A. C. Trousdale and C. A. Moore to make the inquiry suggested by Mr. Kitchener. Aspects of the tariff revision and its effects were discussed by Messrs. F. N. Ambler, a past president of the Auckland Manufacturers’ Association, Mr. Shove, Mr. Kitchener, Mr. Moore and other speakers. Reciprocal Trade Ideal. The meeting passed the following resolution:—“That this meeting, while deploring the suggested boycott of New Zealand produce by operatives in certain English districts, assures the operatives that a vast number of Dominion farmers are constantly agitating for a reduction in trade restrictions and customs tariffs on the basis of reciprocal trade agreements favouring Great Britain, and is willing to co-operate with an organised movement in Britain directed toward achieving this objective. “That this meeting recommends the Farmers’ Union to co-operate in forming a league for freer trade to educate public opinion in directing political efforts toward reducing tariffs and trade restrictions in accordance with the principles of reciprocal trade.” A third motion was as follows: “That this meeting suggests that farmers should unite to boycott any goods manufactured under duty, which amounts to giving a monopoly to New Zealand industry against British manufactured goods, believing that a high standard of living for the people of New Zealand depends on the freest possible exchange of primary products for the manufactured goods of other countries.” This was not put to the meeting, but was deferred, pending the result of the other resolutions. Mr. Kitchener said that the revised tariff had hit the importer so hard that it had become almost a prohibitive tax on many lines of footwear. He said that in children’s lines, sizes up to nine still came in free, but on size 10 there was a tax of 3s a pair. The new duty shut out cheap lines of men’s and women’s shoes, and children’s shoes above size nine. Two Examples Quoted. A type of footwear known to the trade as “rainettes,” which was not made in New Zealand, now carried a duty of 17s 4d a pair, he continued. He had been selling this line at 6s lid. Small gum-boots, not made in the Dominion, had been selling at Is lid and they now carried duty of 7s 4d a pair. It had been said that children’s shoes and sandals would be made in New Zealand at a price competitive with the landed cost of overseas goods, Mr. Kitchener added. He suggested that a committee should be set up by the meeting to investigate whether or not the wholesale price of Dominionmade footwear had advanced since the tariff revison.