TARIFF BOARD WANTED

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 205, 18 November 1927, Page 16

TARIFF BOARD WANTED

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IDEA MEETING OF COUNCIL TN view of the ever-present possibility of tariff revision there should be a tariff board which would operate in advance and give information about the measures. This suggestion was discussed by the council of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce yesterday. The president, Mr. A. G. Lunn, said that the personnel of the board had not been considered by the executive. The view that the board should be representative of primary, secondary and consuming interests was advocated by Mr. J. A. C. Allum. Mr. H. P. Caughey said that there was a danger of frequent alteration in the tariff regulations. Mr. Lunn said that the,board might operate in place of the present Government Commission. There need be no permanent board like the Australian one. The question was referred back to the executive for further consideration and a report. LOCAL BODY PRIVILEGES Privileges enjoyed by local authorities were commented on. It was decided to represent to the Government that the limitation of time within which actions might be brought against them should be modified and brought into line with private traders. Further, that such anomalies of the local body legislation, as those preventing the refund of rates inadvertently twice paid must be removed and that all local body trading departments be required to bring down annual accounts prepared in accordance with the principles commonly adopted by privately-owned concerns. The council decided that in the interests of good business and of inspiring confidence, the Government in all its various buying departments, should adopt the practice of many other countries and publish in the Gazette the names and prices of successful tenderers and that unsuccessful tenderers should be supplied with this information. It was decided to forward a letter to the London Chamber of Commerce expressing doubt whether the preference requirement of 50 per cent, of British labour was not being evaded by some English manufacturers. The London Chamber will be asked the effect of a general raising of the minimum requirement from 50 per cent, to 75 per cent, for industries using raw materials which could be economically produced in British countries.