TARIFF INQUIRY

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 73, 28 March 1933, Page 8

TARIFF INQUIRY

REASON FOR DELAY

BRITISH GOVERNMENT'S REQUEST

There is no ground for the suggestion which has been made that-the New Zealand manufacturers have been responsible fof the delay which has occurred in connection with the review of the New Zealand Tariff. This was niado clear, today by the Minister of Customs (the Rt. Hon.' J. G. Coates), in reply to a question by a "Post" representative.

"I can givo a very definite and positive assurance that there is no basis at all for any suggestion that the review' of our protective Tariff has been delayed because of opposition here, 11 said Mr. Coates. "I am under no illusions as to the attitude of manufacturing interests to the possible revision of existing rates; their opposition to any lessening of protection is what would be expected. But it is certainly not true ■ that.: either they or any other local interests have delayed the commencement of the inquiry. On the contrary, the only request for,delay has been from' the Home Government. They have expressly asked us to postpone the inquiry for, some months, and even now We-'f eel that it will be necessary to make a start in advance of the date, suggested by the British Government, while assuring them that every opportunity will be given to their manufacturers to present all details before the inquiry concludes."

It is stated that the New Zealand manufacturers suggested a' postponement of the commencement of the inquiry' until the beginning of April, but they are now quite ready to proceed.