TARIFF REVISION.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 June 1920, Page 5

TARIFF REVISION.

CABISIT CONSIDERING MATTER. LEATHER DUTY OPPOSED. "IT Merai*.—Press Association. ■ Wellington, Last Night. A deputation representing retail bootmakers waited on the Minister of Customs to-day, and asked that in view of ■ft* ahartage of leather suitable for boot *ol«, the present import duty of 2d per lb on leather be remitted. It was stated on behalf of the deputation that there were not sufficient hides in.New Zealand of the right weight to produce manufacture in this country, and the re* •nit, bad been that bootmakers had been compelled to use for soles leather much too light for this duty. If the request were granted. New Zealand makers of leather would not suffer, because even in pre-war times ft had been the «ustom of the trade to import English leather foaoles, and for tanoer3 to import heavy hides. The Minister, in reply, said that the question of a revision of the tariff was now Before Cabinet, but it was improbable that anything would be done by way of legislation during the next session of Parliament. He hoped that the tariff revision -proposals would be con--B'M?.d,J>y. Parliament next year. In the meantime it was intended that a board of inquiry, consisting of Customs expert*, should go into all tariff matters, ahd the representations of the deputation would bo placed on record in order that they might be put before the Board. Alaor people, interested would probably be given an opportunity of giving evidence, Of otherwise placing their views before the board.