Kōrero: Customs and tariffs

In the early 20th century there was a strong pro-British sentiment in New Zealand, alongside increasing sales of produce to the UK and growing identification with the British Empire, strengthened by the South African and First World wars. In 1904 Richard Seddon introduced a tariff preference for manufactured goods imported from Britain. Most tariff changes for the next four decades included such preferential duties. The sentiments behind these measures are well expressed in this billboard from the early 20th century.