THE BOOT TARIFF.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 60, 7 August 1907, Page 2

THE BOOT TARIFF.

EMPHATIC DECLARATION BY THE MINISTER. Per Press Association. Wellington, August 6. The Minister lor Laibor to-night ieceived a deputation from the Wellington Boot Operatives Society in regard io the tariff. Tlio deputation urged on ] t%A Minister tlio necessity of standing hard and fast to tlie proposals brought forward, and hoped the Minister would do his best to carry them through Par- ■ liameut. It had been said by former deputations that the proposals would increase the duty on shoes largely worn l,v Dip children of the working elass.'S, I but that was not true. Figures _ «et | forth by the importers were unreliable. | The Uftvernment's proposals not only mciiint full employment to the trade, but tlioy would put the industry on a fair footing. The proposals would not only protect the workers in the tra-le, but the public as well, for they would get boots out of which they would hn-vc more faithful service, even althougn they did pay fld more for tliein. The Hon. Mr Millar said his proposals had been brought forward after mature consideration. His inquiries had elicited the fact that in the local _bo.it

trade skilled workmen were receiving 35s 4d as the average wage during the Inst five years, and that with constant employment. The whole of his information went to show that a very shoddy class of boots—absolutely rubbish—was being imported, which, when put into a window at a cheap price, seemed to appeal to the jeople as an article worth buying. He had, however, also had samples of colonial manufacture which were a disgrace to the country. But what occurred? Unless we handed over our trade to the sweaters themselves, it was absolutely necessary for our workers to start on cheap lines of Articles if they were to keep pace with outside competition. He did not want to drive a shilling's worth of labor out of the colony. "We don't intend to gr> back on our tariff one iota," said the Minister, "except in regard to felt shoes and indiarubbor shoes not manufactured in the colony. That is going to be considered by my colleagues. With reference to boots', shoes and ordinary leather slippers, the tariff you've got is the tariff the Government intends to pass. The whole object lias been first of all to find work for our own people. Wo are not going in for a purely protective tariff, but wo are putting forward a tariff which we believe will placo several industries in tins colony on a much better footing than they are at present. So far as the Government is concerned, it is our intention to endeavor, as far as in our power lies, to make these resolutions the law of the country."