AUSTRALIAN TRADE

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIII, Issue 263, 4 October 1933, Page 9

AUSTRALIAN TRADE

TARIFF COMMISSION EVIDENCE. Per Press Association. CHRISTCHURCH, Oct. 3. Evidence on behalf of the South Island Grain, Seed and Produce Merchants’ Association was given before the Tariff Commission to-day by John Joseph .Corry, George Fleetwood Frederick Leonard Smith, and Charles Howard Hewlett Corry, who asked for the retention of the present duties on oats, peas, malting barley, whole maize and onions. Grass and clover seeds were free, and it was asked that they remain free. Feed barley came in free, and it was asked that the 2s per cental duty be reimposed. Bran and pollard entered free, and it was asked that the duty of £1 a ton be reimposed. A further request was for a reimposition of the duty of 2s a cental on crushed and ground maize. It was desired also that the duty of £1 a ton be reimposed on Australian chaff. Linseed was free from all sources, and it was asked that a duty of 2s a cental from all coun-

tries other than Australia be imposed. the Commission was also asked to use its efforts to have the duty on potatoes entering Australia reduced from £2 10s to £1 a ton, and to have the present embargo lifted. In 1922 the Hon. W. Downie Stewart, then Minister of Customs, concluded a reciprocal ■agreement with Australia under which the duties on produce which had been in force for some years were altered. This agreement had never been observed by Australia. One speaker supported the protection on wheat, and claimed that other farm produce should have protection to conserve the New Zealand domestic market for New Zealand farmers. Between 1922 and 1932 exports from New Zealand to Australia totalled £27,200,935, and imports from Australia to New Zealand £41,528,159, the balance in favour of Australia being £14,327,224.