MANUFACTURERS ASK FOR TARIFF BOARD

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 157, 23 September 1927, Page 14

MANUFACTURERS ASK FOR TARIFF BOARD

TARIFF GRIEVANCES PROTECTION OF INDUSTRIES Press Association. WELLINGTON, Thursday. A deputation comprising 50 members of the New Zealand Manufacturers’ Federation waited on the Prime Minister this evening to protest against the new tariff. “From the point of view of the New Zealand manufacturers the new tariff to use a homely phrase, is rotten,” declared Mr. J. S. Ross, the president of the association. The deputation claimed the new customs schedule did not give their industries the protection to which they were entitled. The deputation asked that the secondary industries of the* Dominion should be placed in a position to compete with overseas manufacturers, that a tariff board with power to revise the details’of the tariff should be established, that the dumping duties should be enforced, and that to qualify under the Empire-preference clauses imported goods should be at least 75 per cent. British made instead of 50 per cent, as at present. The Prime Minister, replying, said that the tariff had been designed to give substantial benefit to those industries most beneficial to the country. Such industries should be afforded some help to enable them to get on their feet in competition with those of older countries which had built up world-wide distributing and sales organisations. That did not mean that the New Zealand industries should always be bolstered. That would not be to their interests, nor to the interests of the country. The tarilf was most carefully framed. There were certain industries which it was felt would not be worth helping, as their future was not likely to be a healthy one. The question of a tariff board was one of policy, and it was certainly a question that the Government would consider. He would not like, however, to give any indication of possible action on the point, as he would have to consult his colleagues. Mr. Coates also promised to consider the request regarding the imposition of dumping duties.