TARIFF REVISION

Hokitika Guardian, 20 July 1926, Page 3

TARIFF REVISION

BILL LIKELY NEXT SESSION. WELLINGTON, July 15. An important survey of traiff conditions in relation to New Zealand’s secondary industries was made by the Minister of Finance, Air W. Bowiiie Stewart in replying on the financial debate. He agreed that it was desirable to encourage industries suitable to New Zealand and the whole effort of the last tariff revision, in 1921, was to that end. Protection was given sufficient to encourage New Zealand industries, but not entirely to exclude competition. Entirely to bar outside manufactures be unhealthy, hothouse methods. “I think it will he necessary and I hope next year,” continued Air Stewart “to revise the tariff, but I do not agree with members whose .criticism is directed to showing tln.it we should have a Tariff Board, such as exists in Australia, which bv continually altering the tariff creates so much uncertainty in trade and so much dislocation. This gives rise to great discontent. .Even though anomalies conic into existence and certain industries may be temporarily embarassed, it is not in the interests of trade as a whole that the tariff be continually altered. Tbe Industries and Commerce Department nre looking into tbe position of some industries with a view to giving them some assistance without opening up the whole tariff.”

The Alinixtcr declared himself puzzled over the attitude of the Labour Party. They wore continually denouncing over taxation of the worker through the Customs and declaring the tariff fir too high, but now they were saying that the tariff was not high enough. Air Holland: Wo say you raised too much money by Customs taxation. Why does the protective tariff permit of such huge imports? Air Stewart replied that the protective tariff vpis not intended entirely to exclude imports. If protection went too high, what would happen? He had told New Zealand confectionery manufacturers, who wanted high protection, that it would only cause the excluded competitors to use their great resources to establish factories in New Zealand mud that local men wouldbe wiped out. AVhat our tariff did was not entirely to exclude imports, but to enable them to come in at such a price as made it possible for the local manufacturer to hold up his head and

Air Holland: \Vlmt alxiut the boot liclustry ?

Air Stewart replied that- lie had told New Zealand boot manufacturers that they should not continually light the tanners over the price of leather, but should establish their own tanneries and specialised factories turning out one class' of boot in each. Thus they would have a far better chance of making it a live industry, ft had been protected for -10 years and was continually i.n difficulties.