TARIFF QUESTION

Evening Post, Volume CXIV, Issue 120, 17 November 1932, Page 12

TARIFF QUESTION

FORM OF INQUIRY

BRITISH MANUFACTURERS

NO UMPIRES WANTED

A survey of the agreement made with Great Britain at the Ottawa Conference and an outline of its effect upon the Dominion were given by the Eight Honourable J. G. Coates, leader of the New Zealand delegation, at a luncheon tendered to him to-day by the United Kingdom Manufacturers' and New Zealand Association. Mr. Asheroft Edivards, president of the association, presided, 'and those present included Dr. G. Craig, Comptroller of Customs; Mr. T. A. Muntz, acting-Brit-ish Trade Commissioner; and Mr. J. Pearce Luke, president of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce.

Mr. Coates said that New Zealand had already given effect to the short list of revised tariff rates, and the surtax had been removed from United Kingdom imports. The work that remained—and it was one which, he could not discuss in detail at that stage—was that of revising the tariff schedules in ™ kght of the Ottawa Agreement. Ihe Dominion was committed to an inquiry, and the principles had been laid down in accordance with which this country was to act. Various opinions had been expressed as to the form which the inquiry should take. It had been suggested that there should be a representative from all parties concerned, but conflicting interests brought together rarely eaine to a satisfactory conclusion. In his own opinion, the inquiry should be mad© by men well-versed in the matters in question and qualified to deal with them, men who understood the country's tariffs, and an expert able to watch the economic position. The review, ,he thought, should then be submitted to the Government, which, after all, must make the decision as to what adjustments should take place. . The question had been raised' as to whether the British manufacturers should be represented on the committee. No undertaking of the kind had ever been given, and, in his opinion, no suggestion of the kind could be entertained. The Dominion, should manage its affairs as best it could without bringing in umpires. The British manufacturer, since he was accepting our I products for his, had every right to express an opinion before the tribunal, but that was not to say-that he should act or be represented pn tSo committee itself. ' • ■ ■