EFFECT OF CUSTOMS TARIFF.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXII, Issue 192, 28 August 1900, Page 2

EFFECT OF CUSTOMS TARIFF.

[PUB PBES3 ASSOCIATION.] Wellington, August 27. In reply to a deputation of candle manufacturers, Mr. Seddon said he thought perhaps the better plan would be to retain the reduction of duty on candles to one penny per pound, and admit raw material free. The former would be a benefit to the consumers, while the latter would afford compensation to manufacturers. He could not, however, say anything definite until the whole question was considered by the Cabinet. Latbb, A deputation representing the leading iron-workers of the colony waited upon the Premier this afternoon, asking that the tariff on mining machinery be retained and increased if possible. One speaker stated that they had been approached with respect to getting dredging machinery from Germany, and that orders wero being taken to England and America it was asserted that a very large amount of capital had been invested recently in plant for dredging machinery; that a large amount of labor was employed, and that the new tariff would have the effect of preventing the colonial manufacturers from competing against the cheaper labor and the smaller cost of material used in the industry in Australia, Europe and America. He further urged that the industry was peculiarly a New Zealand one. It had bean originated and perfected there and it was only right that the people of the colony should reap the advantage of their enterprise and skill. The various speakers denied that they were so full of orders that they could not execute them in a reasonable time. On the contrary with the improved, machinery which they had prooured they were able to excute more orders than they had at the present time. Mr. Seddon said he had a practical knowledge of the subject; therefore, he could deal with it with some degree of confidence. He had found that there were a great many anomalies in the tariff at present whioh from time to time came up for decision, therefore the Government thought it would be better to sweep away the duty altogether. He had been informed that dredges could not be sup- 1 plied under 18 months, and as to the tarifi he had a full knowledge of the advantage of retaining money in the country instead of sending it to other parts of the world ; but in framing tariff one had to consider all classes of. machinery and not merely that affecting one industry. He would place the views of deputation before th> Cabinet, and ho had no doub that the best interests of the colony as a whole would be considered in the decision arrived at. He complained about a statement made in a Southern paper that he had given way upon all articles in the tariff, thei duty upon which, it was proposed, should be altered. That statement wa< not true, and caused much annoyanc and friction. The proposed alteration* in the tariff emanated entirely from th< Government without suggestions of any kind from outside. With regard to the tariff proposals, he found himself in the extraordinary position for a Colonial Treasurer of being pressed to retain, instead of to remove, taxation, fie would stick to the main lines of hi* tariff proposals, but in respect to some minor respscts there would probably be an alteration.

A deputation representing the candle manufacturing industry of the colony waited upon the Premier urging that the one p|nny per pound duty proposed to the remitted should »e retained. Various speakers stated that the effect of doing away with the tuift would inevitably result in closing down tht manufactories of the colony, as, even with the duty, the industry had only paid a very moderate profit, while) neither the consumer nor the revenue would benefit by the reduction. As an alternative proposal to the duty being retained the deputation urged that the raw material, paraffin wax, should be admitted free, which would enable manufacturers to compete on more equal terms with the imported article. It was contended that a continual alteration in the tariff would have a very detrimental effect upon starting oolonial industries, as people would have no security for the capital which they might embark in them, Mr. Seddon, in reply, said the matter was so important that he would place it before the Cabinet. He had been informed, however, that under the proposed tariff there would still be a fair profit for manufacturers. After all it was the consumer who had to be considered, and, while he wbb in favour of encouraging local industries, that wis the real question at issue. The matter of admitting paraffin free ought to be considered, and he would take further evidence upon that point. Napier, August 27. The Chamber of Commerce to-day carried a resolution favouring the abolition of the duty on sugar, instead of the remissions on candles and other lines.