CANADIAN TARIFF.

Waikato Times, Volume 109, Issue 18349, 8 June 1931, Page 9

CANADIAN TARIFF.

(To the Editor.) Sir, —I read with interest your subleader- on tho above question, and thoungh a Arm believer in the wisdom of reciprocal trade, yet I cannot see how New Zealand can do otherwise than retaliate. I do not mean we should retaliate In a spiteful way, but in order to strengthen our hands in the endeavour to strike a further bargain. It Is clear that the Prime Minister of Canada lias made up his mind to follow the pernicious example of tho United States of America —i.e., to sell to oilier countries and buy as little as possible In return—and I think Mr Forties recognised the hopelessness of the position. Canada has now lost a most lucrative trade with Now Zealand, and it. remains lo be seen what her future action will he. It is not long ago that a party of New Zealanders were not allowed to land in Canada. Most members of that party were in possession of £2OO each. Not only were they sent back, but liiey were practically imprisoned until a ship was ready to lake them back. Now Sir, you stale that in imposing a retaliatory tariff New Zealand is the tlrst lo abrogate the ideals of Hie British Commonwealth of Nations. I do not agree with you. Canada all through the piece lias acted towards us in a high-handed manner. No objection could ho taken lo the tariff against our butter of i cents a pound. This duly would be quite sufficient protection for the Canadian farmer, and 1 believe he was quite satisfied with that margin, but the tlrst action of Mr Bennett on attaining tlu: office; of Prime Minister, in doubling tho duty to 8 cents, just when Mr Forbes was arriving in Canada, could be construed as nntliing but an unjustifiable rebuff. Canada, in common with other countries, must recognise that then' is such a tiling as a divine law of unity, and whether broken by nations or individuals the. painful result is the same.—l am, ole., W. P. KENAII. ltautapu, June 5, 1231.