PROTECTIVE TARIFF.

Waikato Times, Volume 102, Issue 17221, 3 October 1927, Page 9

PROTECTIVE TARIFF.

PENALISING THE FARMER. FARMERS' UNION DISCUSSION. Protective tariff and the latest suggested amendments were a subject for further discussion at the monthly meeting of the Cambridge branch of the Farmers' Union on Friday. The matter was introduced by Mr R. Feisst, who said that the Minister of Finance, Hon. W. Dovvnie Stewart, in trying to please everybody, had pleased nobody. Recently lie bad stated to a body of Dominion manufacturers that lie had set out to assist ! them. Their effort was only out of consideration for their own selfish welfare. The Minister had made it quite clear what was in his mind. Anyone could sec the utter folly of the latest amendments because they contradicted one another economically. They would perhaps assist the breakfast table, but that was about all. As against this there are 27 farm requisites peculiar to the farmer upon which the Minister suggests an increase of protection. Mr Feisst said he could not come to any other conclusion thau that while the amendments would put a shilling into the pockets of the housewives, they would take £1 out of the farmers', lie was satisfied that the manufacturers in seeking further protection would defeat their own ends. He wished to make it quite clear that he was not opposed to local manufacturing but he was strongly up against the pitting of one industry against another, which ! was all protection meant. Mr Feisst then moved the following motion: "That this branch of the Farmers' Union takes the strongest possible exception to the suggested tariff amendments whereby still greater duties are to be levied upon importation, behoving such will inevitably increase the cost of production." It was resolved that the resolution, which was carried unanimously, be forwarded to the Prime Minister, the Minister of Finance, Messrs Reid, Hockly and Young, M.'sP. and the sub-provincial branch. !