TILE TARIFF PROBLEM

Hokitika Guardian, 18 June 1921, Page 1

TILE TARIFF PROBLEM

NEW ZEALAND INDUSTRIES. SBARCHING INQUIRIES. WELLINGTON, Jun e 16. Though Parliament will meet so late this year for its business session—about the end of August or early in September was tho time indicated by Mr Massey at the recent short session—hon. members will have a heavy task before them in the revision of the Customs tariff. EFFECT ON CHEAP POWER. Thirteen years have elapsed sine© our tariff was last revised, and in the interval the Dominion’s manufacturing industries have considerably increased. Moreover, in view of the hydro-electric schemes already under way or shortly to ho inaugurated, the prospects of industrial development hy means of the cheap power that is expected to he available before many years are out. are held to he very rosy indeed. What has been done for Christchurch manufacturing industries by the Lake Coleridge scheme affords a sufficient indication of what the other great hydro-elec-tric schemes may well do for the other parts of the Dominion. PREPARATIONS TN HAND.

On the present occasion the preparations for the revision of the tariff are said to he much more complete than has usually boon the ease. Not only is thorough departmental inquiry into the matter being heTd, hut the Board of Trade, allied to the Department of Industries and Commerce, is represented upon the committee which is conducting the investigation; and the various parties interested look to the hoard to secure, on the one hand, protection for local industries, and to see to it, on the other hand, flint prices are not, as a result of tariff cffltnges, unduly raised against the consumer. Tn tho past (it is held hy some) the protective principle has been abused in New Zealand through a high tariff on imports being made an instrument to inflate the price of local manufactures. With regard to our match-making industry, for example, the 1912*Cost of Living Fomission declared —“Tt would pay the authorities to pension off all the employees .riving them the present wages earned, that is. £11,892. The revenue from imported matches would Produce at least £20.900 a year, and the public would have bettor matches at much lower prices than those ruling at present.” Fact's and figures were cited to show that, were all the matches used in the Dominion imported. subject to the usual duty, the public could obtain matches at 5d a dozen less (Is 3d a dozen, instead of Is Bd. then the ruling price), and the State would get a bigger revenue.

PPOTECTTON ANT) PPOPFCTTON. Such. if is snifl, •will fin the nlass of rritinism that those desiring protection for their industries will have to moot whan fhci minims are dealt with hv Parliament next session. Tn addition tlin Poard of Trade lias made close actuarial inquiry as to the cost of production in manufacturing industries, and it lias linen limed flint if any additional protection is afforded to sueli industries, flic hoard should he empowered to examine their hoofs from time to time in order to secure that the tariff is used only for protective purposes, and not as a lever for profiteering on the nart of local manufacturers. SECOND A PY TNPFSTPTES. While the financial position of onr manufacturing industries is being inquired into hy the departmental committee of experts, presided over liv Mr W. 0. Macdonald. (chairman of the Poard of Trade), the Minister for Industries and Commerce (the TTon. E P. T/ee) is also inquiring into kindred questions affecting New Zealand’s seeondarv industries. Tie is thus preparing himself to aid the Minister for Customs (the TTon W. Powni’e Stewart) in his arduous task of piloting the Tariff Pevision Pill thromdi Parliament.

TTTE PPESENT POSTTTON

TNOMTPY ALMOST ETNTSTTEP

The hearing of evidence in preparation for the revision of the New Zealand Customs tariff, which is to take ldnee next session, is now praetieallv finished. The members of the Tariff Comission have returned to Wellington. and when the evidence of a few local witnesses has heen taken that part of the commission’s work will he over. The due consideration of the evidence given will. however, neoossarilv take no little timo.