THE IRONMASTERS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1064, 1 March 1911, Page 5

THE IRONMASTERS.

MORE ABOUT THE TARIFF. (By Telegfaph-Prcss Association.) DUnodin, -February 28. Delegates to tho Ironmasters' Conferrace wore taken for a trip down the haroour to-day. The party, wore .entertained at lunch by Messrs. Stevenson and Cook. In proposing the toast .of "Visiting DeleKates," tho chairman said that one of the most important matters considered at the conference would, ho hoped, lead to an amendment of the preso'nt tariff in , the direction of making it nress less heavily on their manufactures. Referring to tho new tus which is to be procured for tho Otago Harbour Board, he understood■ that representations had been made to the Government to allow no.rts' that could Dot bo manufactured in the Dominion to come in duty free. If tho Government acceded to the request, the country would suffer no loss, as, if the tug was built in the Old Country, it would come hei'e duty free, and a work of nearly ,£20,00.0 would bo lost to the New, Zealand trade. Tho timo had come when they must look for some redress from the tariff cs a set-off agaiust inorease'd wages fixed by .the Arbitration Court. ■ .' •■

. Mr. Robertson (Wellington) in responding, referred to the hnrdshins experienced by the engineering trade, "and exhorted members to make a united fight against the importation of foreign machinery, which could be made in the Dominion.