CUSTOMS TARIFF.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 April 1919, Page 5

CUSTOMS TARIFF.

* STATEMENT BY MINISTER. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Sight. The Minister of Customs states that, notwithstanding the fact that no revision of the customs tariff has taken place since 1807, he does not anticipate that one will be placed before Parliament this year. A great number of applications have been received from lime to time, both for further protection on articles to be made here, aud for freedom from duty on articles to be imported. In most of these cases the only reply which could be t/ Sent was that the matter would receive consideration when the tariff schedules were next under review. The Minister admitted that the present tariff did not entirely suit the changed conditions that have occurred since the schedules were framed. The various difficulties of classification that had arisen with the progress of invention and the operation of preferential schedules, especially during the war, is recognised as having pressed hardly upon merchants, who have been unable to obtain goods from British sources owing to the restrictions upon exportation. The Minister thought that, when the leaders returned, a clear indication of the Government's policy should be stated in respect to trade industries which it is intended to support with protection duties within the Dominirtn, so that the proposed alterations to schedules could he submitted to the House that would meet next year.