Will Fight Every Line

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 150, 15 September 1927, Page 15

Will Fight Every Line

MANUFACTURERS IRATE NEW TARIFF PREFERENCE YTANUFACTURERS in Auckland feel that the time has come to fight. The new tariff has created sharp dissatisfaction, and a special meeting, the first of a series, was held this afternoon to marshal all the fighting forces. All industries whichc have been hit will be facilitated in laying a fighting case before the Government. Shoes, glass bottles, chocolates, and confectionery, corrugated iron, and lead, were industries which were named as having special grievances. ‘ The greatest disappointment,” said Mr. J. A. C. Allum, in the chair, “was that the Government had granted such a tremendous increase in preference to British goods without consulting the public. The Government had told the people that it was going to force them to take British goods. That would eventually mean a rise to the public. The New Zealand manufacturers had often been twitted with having increased the price behind a Customs barirer, but no security had been obtained in this case against an increase of prices to the consumers.. “it’s got to be a show down, said Mr. A Hum. “Is the Government going to give that paternal protection? v\ e want no humbug in the answer. ’ r ’ Allum said that the association had conducted its affairs on too quiet lines. But it would now have to kick. Mr Allum remarked on the tan it on glass bottles. The local industry had been very unsympathetically treated. The duty should be altered to 25 per cent and 45 per cent., as in tlie case of the insulator duties. The new tariff on chocolate and confectionery was also less than the previous tariff. It was a serious disappointment to the manufacturers in the Dominion and would mean heavy dismissals of hands. . “We can no longer be content with polite phrases,” said Mr. Allum. Charity begins at home, and the Government should realise that its charity should begin at home also. No one objected to showing a preferential principle to Britain. The removal of the corrugated iron duties, the lead tariff and the new tariff on shoes were condemned by representatives at the meeting. It was decided to send a letter on each subject to each member of the House of Representatives.