THE IRON TRADE.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1407, 6 April 1912, Page 6

THE IRON TRADE.

PFIOTECTISN V/ANTEDi DEPUTATION TO THE HOMi a, LAUIffiNSO.W 111? TefecraDli--Pre3B AssnetatloHil Chriatchureh, April l> A deputation frem tha Ironmasters' Association waited on the Hon, G, Lnuycnsoii. Minister for Customs, Ihla mora* ing, The deputation consisted of Messrs, .1. Amkreon, G. Scott, J, 13, Lcurenson, and I , ', Coopor. Mr, J, li. Ltiurcnson said that the asenciation lisid on previous occnslonß waltml on Cabinet Minister.*, and plncod the position before them. Thpv felt tlmt tlio tariir for a long lime had been ngainst tlio manufacturers. They did not ask for ft f[c.ncral tariff, but submitted a list of nrticle-s made in New Zealand with n viow of obtaining protection on them, If

they had a tariff of S3 1-3 on those articles they would be able to establish the industry. They had no desire to increase tho prices to the consumer. A board might bo appointed, as in Germany and Canada, to ascertain whether prices were being increased by tho assistance of the tariff., If that were found to be tho case a report could lx> presented to the Minister, and the articles admitted free.

Mr, John Anderson said that the promoters had no desire to penalise any portion of the community. All they wanted was the general welfare of the Dominion. His iirm had specialised in ths making of oil engines, which were not protected. The response they had received up to tho present was satisfactory up t;> a certain measure, but if they had a duty on tho machine thoy would not ask any more. It was the increase in output they wanted. The dairy industry was becoming a largo one in New Zealand, and his (inn were specialising in dairy boilers. That line of manufacture was on all fours with oil engines. They had published prices and would net alter them if a duty wero imposed, but they would greatly increase the output. The result would be an improved position for the employers and the workers. The workers had been helped to secure increased pay, and tho employers had no complaint to make. Ho did not say that the workers were overpaid. The employers, however, might reasonably expect some assistance, and tho Government, ,by giving protection, would assist them to double the output without increasing the .cost to tho purchaser. The cost of production would also be lessened by tho increase of output. Mr. Scott said that through tho 25 per cent, duty en ranges, the range manufacturing industry had been built up into one of the largest in the country to-day. The Government could take the protection, off, and it would lie impossible for the foreign-mado articlo to come into the market. The Hon. G. Laurenson, in replying, said he would ask Mr. Laurenson to send him a list of the items on which they considered a duty was necessary for tho welfare of the trade. He had been very much interested in Mr. Scott's remark about tho range industry to the effect that he would raise- no objection to tho protective tariff being removed, as it could now competo with outside makers. Mr. Scott's reference to oil engines and motor-cars was also on the right lines. lie was strongly in synipathy with them. Mr. Anderson had pointed out that the State paid a large sum to enable the engineering students to complete their education, and it was unfortunate that the Dominion* should love their services. Mr. Cooper's statement as to the high cost of selling through outside competition was also interesting. He would send an account of the deputation to other members of the Cabinet, and he would also have an interview with the Secretary of the Customs Department regarding the tariff. The late Government had pledged itself to revise the tariff, and he assumed that tho Government's successors would try to carry out that policy. He understood that Sir Joseph Ward had already promised to move in that direction. The Gov-' ernment had also pledged itself to go in for the nationalisation of the iron industry. Ho believed that they could turn out pig at' .CI 15s. a ton, f.o.b. at Parapara, and that at present it cost 'M 15s. per ton imported. With that reduction, and with protection to the industry, thev should be able to build up an iron industry that they could be proud of. He had every sympathy with the deputation, and "lie would see what coiild be done. Ho hoped to be able to communicate with them within ten days.