CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND PROTECTION

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 181, 21 October 1927, Page 14

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND PROTECTION

POLICY EXPLAINED Asserting that the public has a wrong impression as to the attitude of the Chamber of Commerce on protective tariffs, the Auckland Chamber yesterday definitely stated itself as follows: — “The Auckland Chamber of Commerce has never opposed a measure of fair and economic protection for young and growing industries, which may be economically pursued in the Dominion; and its only opposition to the imposition of protective duties has been against the policy of protecting industries which require mass production, and which could not, with the present population of New Zealand, be conducted with any degree of economy. “It has been stated at times that protection should be given to young industries for only a limited period, and this is a reasonable view, but if, after a reasonable time, it is found that an industry is needing more and more protection, it may surely be considered tViat the industry needing this is not being conducted economically.” The executive of the chamber is now discussing recommendations to be made to the Government, one with reference to the setting up of a Tariff Board, including the question of representation of primary and secondary industries and consumers, and the other concerning the amount of British labour and materials in goods subject to special duties as British manufactured.