THE TARIFF.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2152, 7 August 1907, Page 3

THE TARIFF.

J BOOT OPERATIVES FAVOR HEAVY DUTY. I MINISTER OF LABOR MA KES STRONG PROTECTIONIST SPEECH. I Pross Association. WELLINGTON, August 6. Tho Minister for Labor to-night received a deputation from the Wellington Boot Oporativos’ Socioty in regard to the tariff. _ , Tho deputation urged on tho Minister the necessity of standing hard and fast to tho proposals brought forward and hopod the Minister would do his best to carry them through Parliament. It had been said by a former

deputation that tho proposals would increase tho duty bn shoes largely worn by tho children of tho working classes, but that was not truo. Tho figures set forth by the importers wero not reliable. Tlio Government’s proposals nob only meant full employment to tho trades but they would put tlio industry on a fair footing. Tile proposals would not only protect workers in tho trado but tlio public is well, for they would get a boot out >f which they would have more faithill service even although they did pay 3d more for it.

Tho Hon. Mr. Millar 6aid his proposals had been brought forward after ■nature consideration. His inquiries bad elicited the fact that in tho local loot- trade skilled workmen were re-

| -civing 35s 4d as an avorago wage I hiring the last five voars, and that |i with constant, employment. Tho j whole of his information went to show I that a very shoddy class of boot, abI ioluto rubbish, was being imported I which, when put into tho window at I -heap prices, seemed to appeal to I iieoplo ns ail article worth buying. Ho had, however, also had samples of -olonial manufacture which wero a lisgrnco to the country, but what ocmrred ? Unless we handed over our L rado to the sweaters themselves it was absolutely necessary for our workers to start on a cheap lino of irticles' if to keep paoo with uitsulo competition. He did not want to drive a. shilling worth of labor nit of tlio colony. “We don’t intend to go back on onr tariff one iota,” said tho Minister, “except in regard to felt shoes and mdia rubber shoes not manufactured 'n the colony. These are going to be ’onsidered by my colleagues, but with reference to boots, shoes and ordinary 'eatlior slippers the tariff you’ve got : s the tariff the Government intend to inss. The whole object has been, first of all, to find work for our own loople. We are not going in for > purely protective tariff, but we are Hitting forward a tariff which we beheyo will place several industries in diis city on a much better footing ban'they are at present. So far as ;lic Government is concerned it is the ntention to endeavor as far as in our nower lies to make tbe.se resolutions lie law of the country.”