AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 8191, 17 May 1906, Page 4

AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS.

Tur. Liho-.r Department is takiog -teps to H'-t up the tribunal provided for by the Agricultural Implement

Manufacture, Importation and Sale

Act of Lt.vr session. Tiatis measure state* that on complaint to the Commissioner of Trades and Customs by any fro or more manufacturer* ta New Zealand that the price of any implement imported had been ■materially r-.-iuce«i.and that competition on unfair line* was being carried on by importers of implement? from foreign countrieshe was to summon the Board and refer the complaint to it for report. The Art further sets out that the Board i.> to consist of the President of the Arbitration Court, who ah&li be chair* man, the president for the time being < of the Farmers' Union, the president oi the Industrial Association of Canterbury, some per.*."m appointed by the Government on the recommendation of the Trades and Labour Councils, and some person appointed by the Govern* limit on the recommendation of the Agricultural aad Pastoral Associations. The Labor Department has issued circulars to the various Trade and Labor Couneik and Agricultural and Pastoral Association* hi the colony, asking -them to nominate serae persons for election to the Board, VI hen the nominations are

in, a final selection H ill be made by the bodies interested, and the appointments will then be formally made bv the Governor. Having received the complaint of the manufacturers, the

Board, on hems summoned by the Commissioner, shall inquire with as Isttle delay as possible into the matter

referred to it, and for the purposes of such inquiry .skull hare all the powers of an Arbitration Court, The Board, after its inquiry shall report to the Commissioner, and shall state whether in its opinion the price of an implement imported into New Zealand has been ma" terially reduced below that stated in a standard list prepared by the Commissioner. The Board may further recommend whether relief .shall be granted. If it does so recommend, then the Commissioner may grant to implement manufacturers in New Zealand such bonus, not exceeding 'M per cent, as he deems necessary to enable manufaelurers to compete with importers. The Commissioner may also grant relief where the Board finds that the price of implement? manufactured in New Zealand is reduced 20 per cent below the j standard price. The Act is to continue in force until August 1 of this year, "on which date it shall be deemed to be repealed." Questioned about the ! appointment of the Board. Mr Tregear, of the Labour Department, said that no complaints of the character aimed at by the Act had been received by him so far. The present procedure is being taken in case of emergency. The Manawatu A. and P. Association has nominated Mr G. Wheeler, of Halcombe, as the A and P. Society** representative on the Board.