N.Z. TARIFF BOARD

Hokitika Guardian, 4 November 1932, Page 5

N.Z. TARIFF BOARD

TRADERS’ BEQUEST

DEPUTATION to the premier

f Per Press Association — Copyright.)

WELLINGTON,.' Nov. 3.

The appointment of a temporary Tariff Board, presided oyer by a Judge of the Supreme Court, to make tariff investigations, as promised / by the Government, was advocated by a deputation representing the New Zealand Importers’ Federation, the New Zeialand Manufacturers’ Association and the New Zealand' Farmers’ Union* which waited upon the Prime Minister this after noon. .

The prime Minister replied that tli© object of the Government would be to yas impartial a tribunal as possible. Mr Edwin Salmond, President of the Importers’ Federation, said that, although the views of the three organisation on the question of tile bu iff were widely,divergent, they rerlised the agreement made at Ottawa practically bad 'defined the Dominion’s tar-, iff policy for th© next few years. The, Government had stated the tariff would be carefully revised. The deputation suggested that, for this .purpose, a temporary Tariff' Board should, be established 1 , Mr iSalmond ’ paid that businessmen would be ineligible for it as it would be impossible to secure the services of one free of bias. .The importers, be said, suggested the. Board should have a Judge of the Supreme Court ias Chairman, and that a qualified public accountant and a : civil servant should be included.-

Mr R. H. Feist, on behalf of the Farmers’ Union, said! the Farmer’s’ Union was anxious to see 'an investigation canted out thoroughly and, at the earliest opportunity. On the constitution of the Tariff Board they were not of quite the same mind as the other organisations. Accordingly they proposed that there be. a body of members, including a Government ap-' pointee as Chairman, with a representative of the Imperial Government, and also a representative of New Zealand exporting and importing and manufacturing interests. His organisation agreed to a proposal for a three months “lag.” ’ , The Prime Minister said he .-thought the . inquiry should be, public. Britain, he said, was not asking to have representation on the Board or the Committee, but she asked simply for the right to give her evidence. He was afraid that if the representation on the Board was to coyer all interests. it would be wide ( <• „ kj 1 think it is more important to have men than to have thepi,representing any • c neeial interests,” said Mr Forbes. “The matter, however, will not come und’er consideration until after the session early in the new year. Whatever we do. we shall trv to get an impartial Committee to judge entirely on:the merits of. each case.”