MANUFACTURERS AND TARIFF

Dominion, Volume 15, Issue 54, 26 November 1921, Page 6

MANUFACTURERS AND TARIFF

DEPUTATION TO MINISTER DANGER OF DUMPING A deputation of New Zealand manufacturers, headed by Mr. C. . < J. Ward (Wellington) yesterday waited on the Minister of Industries and Commerce (the Hon. E. P. Lee) to put before him thoir. .., views On the tariff question. The deputation came from the manufacturers’ conference which had been sitting in Wellington. Mr. Ward thanked the Minister, of Industries: and Commerce for the part which the. manufacturers were prepared to assume that he. had played ,in bringing about the changes made since the first issue,, of the new tariff. He was glad to see that Australia had l>een transferred to third schedule. Ihe manufacturers considered that the preferential tariff should be for the United Kihgdom only. ' . ' Mr. W. H. P. Barber (Wellington) said that Australasia had long .been looked upon by manufacturers in Britain and on the Continent as a suitable ground on . which to get rid. of surplus' stock. Now New Zealand, in comparison with Australia, was placed at a disadvantage of 15 per cent, in the matter of protection. On British manufactured apparel coming into Australia- there was a duty of 40 per cent., whereas -the‘corresponding duty in New Zealand was 25 per cent. There was a similar difference in the tariff' on blankets, and woollensocks in the respective countries. If New Zealand was going to be left at such a disadvantage, the British or Continental manufacturer with stock to dump would send it to New Zealand instead of sending it to Australia. Thais- New Zealand would become the dumping ground for the older world. The manufacturers of this country hoped that something would be done to save their industries from such a threat. Australia, in addition to having a protective tariff la pei cent, higher than that of New Zealand was promoting an anti-dumping Billwas hoped that the New. Zealand Government would do something to pi the flooding of this country with cheap articles, probably of inferior quality and produced by cheap labour. Mr. Lee: You are asking for antidumping legislation. Then you are pointing out that tbe .tariff in against these articles is higher than in New Zealand? ■ Air. Barber: Fifteen per cent.; and a good deal more with regard 'to fdreign S °Mr.'Lee: AVhat I want to put before rou is this: these goods can find their way into New Zealand without in . any wav being dumped. . * Mr. Barber: They may. Yes. Air Lee: Under those conditions, ato you asking for the Australian tariff against Great Britain? Mr. Barber: I ea-y it is a fair thing* Mr. Lee: You are. asking for it? . .. Mr’ Barber: “Yes. I will ask for it. The delegate added that products of the Australian woollen industry could he sent into New Zealand at 15 per cent, less than the products of the New Zealand industry could be sent into tralia. x Air Lee: We have remedied that. . Mr. Bather: Not so far, unless it is contemplated. .. . Mr. Lee (to Mr. Ward) :• If the transaction is not in the nature of flumping, if the goods are sold from _tho Old Country at a legitimate profit-to the manufacturer, do yon then ask. io*, a higher tariff against them ’ Mr Ward:' Nd. That was not quite understood. Speaking generally w.e are not asking for more against EngS Mr. H. Holland (Christchurch) said he understood that tne establishment ,Ox a. permanent tariff, board had been mooted, with the idea that tho board should bring the tariff continually .up to date. The deputation approved. Ot the idea. , ~ . The Minister, in. replying,, satd that it. was impossible to please everybody in the making of a Customs, tariff. As. soon as one set .flf person's was. pleased, another .was dissatisfied. AA'ith regaid to Australia, New Zealand ’ was entrenching itself so that it might be able to conduct negotiations from behind a ■ tariff wall. This would strengthen the position of New Zealand. He had noted' all the requests made by' the deputation. He thought he was right = ‘in ’ saying that there would be iiowcr to place on the third schedule any Dominion of the Empire which was not. prepared to enter into .a "satisfactory arrangement with, this Country.■ : Me thought that the'deputation would find, adequate powers to deal with dumping conferred by the Customs Bill. : xje had noted the request that" there should be some means of keeping the tariff up to date ffiy f'requenff revision of small details and inconsistencies. ■ He would not say what he . thought ought to fie done, but he would carry the sug-. Ration to the Prime' Minister and Cabinet. A fear had been expressed that tho Board of Trade was going to disappear. Sometimes there .was a good deal of importance attached to He did not think his hearers needed to anticipate that the industries and commerce of the country would cease to ‘fie watched by some Government Departir.enb. Whether the Board of Trad© would continue in its present form he was not able at the moment to say. However, he had noted the desire, that the interests of New Zealand industries should continue to be watched by the Government. He thought that ■ the Government would look after them, for looking after the industries of the country was looking after the welfare of the people. He regretted that some of the iiidustrios which wlave (producing quite troo'l articles in New Zealand, war© not .protected, mndcr. th« 'tariff. He was referring particularly ..to some of .the ' iron industries. He was. not criticising, of course, the policy of the Government, but merely saying that sometimes it was not possible to do everything one, wouM like to do, : Tho manufacturers ' must give the Government credit for having done its best. Many of the difficulties which had arisen when the first proposals were brought down had disappeared. An endeavour had been made to meet the various -industries, and in many , cases he thought they had been met successfully.