THE TARIFF.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIII, Issue 9104, 25 March 1908, Page 8

THE TARIFF.

WHAT ARE SLIPPERS? Per Press Association. Wellington, March 25. Questions regarding the interpretation of the tariff jin reference to shoes and slippers were discussed to-day between the Minister of Customs and representatives of importers from Wellington and Auckland. The question at issue, apart from the interpretation, was one of payment of duty. Slippers pay per cent and shoes one shilling per” pair plus 15 per cent. The Minister said Parliament had agreed that slippers with soles of felt, twine and carpet should be admitted at 23>£ per cent, and that would, he adhered to. He added that the idea of the duty under the new tariff was to foster the slipper manufacturing industry of New Zealand by reducing the duty on goods that could not he manufactured in the Dominion and putting duty on those goods which could he manufactured here. If ho now made a definition of slippers which was going to cut into local manuafeturers he would undo the object that Parliament had in passing the tariff.