TARIFF REFORMS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2154, 1 April 1908, Page 1

TARIFF REFORMS.

- PREFERENTIAL TRADE. .STATEMENT BY THE MINISTER - FOR CUSTOMS. Press Association. WELLINGTON, 'March 31. The chief points brought out by the importers in Auckland in discussing tariff reform were brought under the notice of the Minister for Customs to-day. In replying, the Hon. J. A. iMill'ar said that tho matters mentioned were very fully discussed when the tariff was under review by the House last session. It was quite realised that on some of the articles there might he an increase, but the desire was to endeavor to foster trade within, the .Empire. That was the whole object of tho -preferential tariff, anil the arguments raised now are exactly tho same old arguments. “It is perfectly true,” the Minister said, “That some of the lines on which the preferential tariff is levied are not.mado in Great Britain, and will not ho made in Great Britain, but in many of these cases tlio articles -which are not hi ail e in Great Britain enter into competition with an article which is made in Great-Britain, and that -was the reason for putting on the preferential tariff. We anticipate an increased importation ' of Britisli-mado goods, because of the effect of tho preferential tariff, which, together witli the Patents Act passed in Great Britain, will, -in my opinion, force into the Old ’Country a good deal of tlio trade which was -formerly clono with the Continent. This absolute nonsense talked by the man who says that a painter’s brush which formerly sold' at 5s 6d will now cost 8s 6cl is not worth answering. He was not justified in charging or compelled to make such 'a charge under the new tariff. There is one point which I shall watch very carefully,” said the Minister, “and that is, whether tlio amount charged to foroigii-mado goods under tho preferential tariff is going to be added to-the cost of .British or Canadiaiinmade goods. The intention of the Act was not that manufacturers who have been competing at a very narrow margin of profit with foreign manufacturers should put the whole of the preference in their own pockets, but to benefit the consumers as well, and I shall carefully watch" the price lists of those firms which have been doing business in New Zealand in competition with foreign manufacturers prior to the coming into operation of the new Act. If I find that the whole of the resultant profit is being put into the pockets of the manufacturers, and that the New Zealand public 'are gaining no portion of the benefits intended by the tariff, I- shall again bring the matter under tho review of my colleagues. It might be, on the other hand, that the results of the nreferential tariff will be so beneficial as to justify tho Government in asking Parliament to give a still further measure of preference to Great Britain, but of course that will depend entirely on the experience of the next two or three years.