THE IRON INDUSTRY

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 138, 20 September 1910, Page 2

THE IRON INDUSTRY

i APPEAL FOR PROTECTION. By Telegraph.—Pres? Association. Wellington, Monday. The condition of the iron trade in New Zealand was brought under the notice of the Premier to-day by a deputation representing the "employers and employees of the Dominion. The deputation stated that the best tradesmen were leaving the country. Last year I the number of men employed in the iron trade in the Dominion decreased by 416. It urged that Government should not import anything that could be made here, and that local bodies should do likewise, and that where I necessary further protection by the , tariff should be 'given. Sir' Joseph Ward, in reply, said that . the difficulty was that a section of the public and Parliament would not go the length urged in reference to the i tariff. He suggested that the deputation should go carefully into the matter and consider in what directions the in: dustry should be helped by means of . the tariff, He was quite prepared to consider suggestions for alteration of the tariff upon a reasonable basis. At present the Government was obtaining anything locally it was possible to obtain. He thought local bodies should elect men pledged to support local industries. Government could not touch the tariff this session,.