RATHER ALARMING

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 342, 1 October 1932, Page 2

RATHER ALARMING

POINT OF DANGER OTTAWA CONFERiENCE IS MENACE TO NEW INDUSTRIES. SIGNING DEATH-WARRANT. Speaking at a meeting of the Wellington Manufacturers' Association on Tuesdqy, Mr. W. H. P. Barber, chairman of direetors, Wellington Woollen Manufacturing Co., said that, judging by statements made by New Zealand representativeg ,at. the Ottawa Conference, the agreement arrived at might have a serious effect on the secondary industries of New Zealand. It appeared as if Great Britain would have discretionary power to determine whether or not a new industry should be started in the Dominion when, in Britain's view, Engjand could supply the goods more economically. That seeme,d to he .a wide power to,give Britain. New Zealand had.agreed to remove the primage duty on goods from the United Kingdom when financial conditions permitted, and to remove the surtax at-once. Those were purely revenue duties and if they were removed the Government would have to raise the revenue from some other source — either by taxing industry or by increasing the income tax. . The position was rath'er alarming from the New Zealand manufacturers' point of view. ,Mr. J. ;T. Spears, president, of the New Zealand Manufacturers' Federation, expressed the belief that Mr. Barber had indicated a point of danger arising out of the Ottawa agreement. Aceording to statements made, new industries would not be allowed to be established in New Zealand without the authority of the British Government. Though there was no definite guidance on the point, what had been said represented a possibility that rnust be contested from the standpoint that agreement to such conditions mehnt signing the deathwarrant of industrial development in this country.