THE TARIFF

Hokitika Guardian, 24 July 1930, Page 3

THE TARIFF

EFFECTS DISCUSSED. .. X , (By Telegraph—Per Press Association;) o‘‘ ~~ AUCKLAND, July 23. Mr G. Finn, President of the New Zealand Manufacturers’ Association, ’sbid the hew tariff wouldn’t increase the, colt of goods. It would probably emphasise a preference for Dominion made articles. He commended the clituse providing that if the manufacturers did raise prices, the Govefn‘ment might reduce protection. Obviously the tariff would benefit local ! m"hhui a,ct,u,rers. Sorire were being singled out for preferential treatment but j. he thought the choice just. A weakness of the measure Was that if preference Were given to local manujfacturbrs, the quantity of imports . Would be less and there Was a possibility of it being a vioioiis circle. • This latter view was expresesd also .'by'/Mr M. Stewart, president of die .Chamber of Commerce, who said that if. imports fell the measures might defeat, their own end. f., .f'A ’ -/['' j THE SURTAX. * NEW' PLYMOUTH; July 23. "v'rThe hewAtnriff proposals Were the (subnet of discusjsion at a special meeting'(of the Taranaki Chamber of Commerce. It was decided to take no further action at present, beyond passing the following resolution:— “That, while recognising that the Government is forced by the present state of its finances to obtain additional revenue through the Customs, the Chamber hopes that the imposition of the sur-charge is entirely a temporary measure, and Will he removed at the earliest opportunity. A : i®AA ■ S&SfISR ‘ u u l ii* 1; ■?. COSTLY DELAY;. M . h ■ ; .-•*) ( '.■ - ’A iii •• ' \ K j/ “ AUCKLAND, July 23! f ’They.rirsti : vessel arriving at Auckfaiid' t Whose. cargo comes', under the neWACustoms tariff' is thb Paldpaki, due r frbm Liverpool late to-day. The .steamer was due here a week . ago, but Was apparently .delayed by Pacific storms. Her cargo'includes wliisky, machinery, Manchester goods, and general, manufactures. J a.a'X ' , ' . t- MtyrORISTS’ OBJECTION. ;'X •■•V ' WELLINGTON, July 23. <y‘lf may • be; a" little ' premature to .comment/on the increased petrol tax,’’ said Mr Batt. chairman of the Wellington Automobile Club, , .when asked his opinion of the effect of the 'tariff oh motorists, “in view of the fact that the matter has just come before the House, and apparently -thei'o 'is going to be a certain amount ' ofjOpposition- to it, but in view of. the fact that the gross motor taxation in New Zealand to-day is already £3,094,975 as compared with the total income tax of £3,310,877, a good deal might ‘ be said. Motorists as a class are, contributing in special taxation almost the same amount as the total income tax collected. There was ofery reason to believe that commercial motor owners and the motor trade will join forces in opposing wliat could only be regarded as a most inequitable tax for o'btainingmoney by' false pretences.” "A, TOBACCO INCREASES. vti;:,//Tobacconists express the opinion that hven if cigarettes are raised by only one penny per packet, they -will be selling at a loss. This applies both to local and imported cigarettes. The unanimous opinion is expressed that the new duty should not apply 'to cigarettes of New Zealand manufacture. Increases in the rates on cigars would 'cheap cigar trade. BRITISH PREFERENCE- DUTIES. AUCKLAND, July 23. Mr J. A. C. Allum, Chairman of the Transport Board, commenting on preference to British goods, said that there was more necessity than ever to toe absolutely certain they really were British, and not foreign goods, supplied through a British channel, tfhat could only be done by the Government insisting that the percentage of British labour and material in such goods should be at least 75 per cent., instead of 50 per cent, as at present. : Mr Allum added that it seemed to him the new tariff would seriously affect foreign imports' from which a ~jl arge amount of Customs revenue was MeriVed, ( and in the case of foreign goids which were essential, an undue burden would be placed on the users.