TARIFF QUESTION

Hokitika Guardian, 27 September 1932, Page 6

TARIFF QUESTION

OPPORTUNITIES TO STATE CASE.

FEW OBJECTIONS ARE EXPECTED

WELLINGTON, September 26,

“When the Customs resolutions are brought down, every, opportunity will be given to manufacturers to place thteir views before, the Government,” said the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon, Q, iW, Forbes) to-day. “At the same time, I don’t think they will find it necessary to come forward, for I believe they will recognise that our arrangements with Great Britain are essentially resonable.” ■ $ The Minis)Rer for Industries afnd Commerce (th Hon. R. Masters) is keeping a watchful eye on the tariff .proposals. During his term of office Mf Masters has interested himself particularly in the Dominion’s secondary industries. The purpose of his recent inspections of some of the principal industries in Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch was to secure information of their business methods and efficiency, so that when the. matter, of tariffs did come up he would be well informed for the discussion and would be able,/from his ’ first-hand knowledge, to judge the degree of protection that was justified in each case. According to the Prime Minister there is every reason to believe that the report on the Ottawa Conference; together with, the Customs resolutions, will be brought down to the House of Representatives before fhe end of neXt week. There would be very few Government speakers in the 'Address-. in-Reply' debate, he said, so that tiie length of the debate would depend; largely upon the Labour Party. He had' not yet consulted with the Leader of the Opposition (Mr H. E. Holland), and therefore could not say what that Party’s attitude would be.