THE TARIFF

Taranaki Daily News, 30 November 1921, Page 5

THE TARIFF

FURTHER CHANCES MADE. HELPING THE PRODUCERS. BENZINE AND FUELS FREE. DUTY ON MOTORS REDUCED. By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. Following are further alterations in the tariff, to take effect on November 30, agreed to by the House to-night: Sole leather bends, 141 b. and over: 3d per lb. British, and 5d per lb. foreign; no ad valorem duties. Rubber tyres, motor cars and cycles, bicycles, gas and oil engines up to 100 b.h.p.: The British rate reduced from 15 per cent, to 10 per cent. Spring tine cultivators, disc harrows, seed and fertiliser sowers, seed cleaners and cellular seed separators: 10 per cent. British and 20 .per cent, foreign. Sheep shearing machines: 10 per cent, if foreign; formerly free from all countries. Turpentine, benzine, petrol, gasoline, coal tar, oils, motor fuels: Free from all countries; formerly l%d per gallon. Mineral lubricating oils: (id per gallon British and 8d per gallon foreign. Citrus fruit pulps, in bulk or otherwise: 20 per cent. British and 35 per cent, foreign; formerly free if in bulk and unsweetened. Tinned salmon: British l£d instead of 2d. Fresh apples and pears: Id per lb. British and Id per lb. foreign till January 31, 1921, and Id per lb. British and lAd per lb. foreign afterwards. Powdered resin: 20 per British and 35 per cent, foreign; formerly free. Silk yarns: 10 per cent, foreign; formerly free from all countries. Cast-iron fittings for pipes of over 3in. diameter: 20 per cent. British and 35 per cent, foreign. Rock breaking machines, except jaw crushers: Free British and 10 per cent, foreign. Jaw crushers: 20 per cent. British and 35 per cent, foreign. Spray pumps, foot or hand power: 5 per cent. British and .15 per cent, foreign. Power spray pumps: Free British and 10 per cent, foreign. Cash registers: 20 per cent, all countries. Furniture castors: 20 per cent. British and 30 per cent, foreign up to May 31. 1922. Excise- duties: The second schedule to the resolutions of November 3, 1921, is amended in so far as it relates to culinary and flavouring essences, and tiiat there shall be levied on alcohol used in the production of such culinary and flavouring essences entered for home consumption after the 29th day of Novvember, 1921, a duty at the rate of 16s per proof gallon of alcohol. DEBATE IN THE HOUSE.

TARIFF BILL INTRODUCED. PREMIER OUTLINES PROPOSALS. Wellington, Last Night. The House went into committee of ways and means to-night to consider resolutions dealing with further alterations to the schedules in the tariff resolutions of November 3 and 23. Mr. T. M. Wilford (Leader of the Opposition) asked for information regarding the alterations. The Hon. W. Dowuie Stewart (Minister of Customs) explained some Of the items. In the case of motor ears an alteration was found necessary to get over the difficulty of discriminating between American and British cars owing to the manner in which American values were set out. The changes in the tariff on heavy oils were made in the interest of settlers, fishermen, and other users of these oils. Regarding agricultural machinery, it was found necessary to make concessions to Canada, who was our principal competitor, and whose tariff treated us on the same terms as England. The resolutions were adopted.

In moving the second reading of the Customs Amendment Bill, Mr. Massey said he felt it was necessary that in future the Customs tariff should be revised more frequently, and he suggested it should be done every five years. That period was sufficient* for changes in trade conditions to arise, and for monopolies to grow up. It was also necessary, in view of the fact that the country’s financial needs and resources were subject to fluctuations in that time. He thought everything possible should be done to extend preference within the Empire, althougn so rar New Zealand had not benefited much therefrom. TO PREVENT DUMPING. The Bill contained many drastic provisions to deal with dumping, and these were urgently needed to protect industries from unfair competition from other countries. The question of depreciated currency had become very serious in recent years, causing difficulty tc traders, so that something must be done to meet any attempt that could possibly be made to take advantage or depreciated currency in foreign countries to do business to the detriment of New Zealand industries. Referring to Australia, he hoped it would be possible to come to a working arrangement satisfactory to that country and to New Zealand. , Mr. Massey thought everything possible was being done for the encouragement of the manufacturing industries in New Zealand. He never believed in the practice of sending raw material away to be manufactured and brought back in its made up state. The Premier quoted at length opinions expressed by the Tariff Commission in its report dealing with the question of protection. MR. WILFORDS VIEWS. Mr. Wilford eulogised the work of Mf. Montgomery, head of the Customs Department, in connection with the Bill. He urged the establishment of a tariff board, and said if this was done on thq lines followed in Victoria it would obviate the need for a five-yearly revision of the tariff. Mr. Wilford regretted that the Premier had not mentioned an Order-in-Council which comes into force on January 1 next affecting Canada, Sweden, Norway and other countries where the currency had appreciated. It was pot included iu th*

would have a very serious effect on importers of goods from these countries, because under it goods would be assessed for Customs on the banking rate at the time. An importer would thus be unable tp assess the selling price of goods. One of the drawbacks of the Bill under discussion was the fact that this regulatipn made the market value of imported goods an indeterminate quantity.

He supported Imperial preference, but there were some industries not worth bolstering up. Mr. Wilford said he had suggested the tariff on yarn, but in view of the depreciated value and cost of freights, he thought the proposal in the Bill sufficient. He intended to move for a remission of the duty on tea. Mr. Wilford said it was necessary to give all preference possible to English motor cars, otherwise American cars would have a complete run of the eountry, though there was one American car, the Ford, which he believed would some day have to be admitted free, as it was becoming the settlers’ tool of trade, which he could not do without. The British manufacturer must be induced to make a light car with good clearances if he wished to get a footing in New Zealand.

Mr. Wilford urged consideration for local candle manufacturers. He had been informed that the New Zealand Candle Company, in fifteen years, made only £lB3 profit. This industry in New Zealand was at the mercy of Prices and the Burma companies. He advocated a revision of the tariff on biograph machines and motor car fittings, which a company in the Dominion was in a position to supply if encouraged. If the same duties remitted were reimposed the duty on tea could be taken off. The duties on the necessaries of life should be lightened to the greatest possible degree. The amusement;, tax should not be put on cheap seats, but restricted to dearer seats. LABOR’S ATTITUDE.

Mr. H. E. Holland supported the appeal for the remission of the tea tax. It was time something was done to encourage industries here. While the Bill proposed would result in increased cost of living, it made no provision for a commensurate rise in wages. He regarded the proposals for British preference as simply in the interest of certain profit-seeking enterprises in New Zealand. Referring to the dumping duty, he considered the House should lay down a definite principle on which it should be imposed, and not leave it to the Minister to make the law.

The debate was continued by Mr. T. K. Sidey (Dunedin South), who said the Government did not know its own mind. The tariff was neither protection nor free trade. Inefficient protection was the worst kind of tariff one could have. At present freights and charges were perhaps high enough to afford protection to our industries, but in a short time all , may expect a reduction in these charges. Then our industries would suffer.

The Hon. W. Downie Stewart, in reply,, said the Chambers of Commerce approved of the steps taken by the Government to remedy the appreciation of American currency, which was depriving Britain of any preference we Were giving her. The Government’s position was extremely difficult, and the people were making it more difficidt by not making their representations in time. Deputations were coming to him every day with requests for protection or remissions which ought to have been made to the tariff commission months ago. He defended the powers asked for by the Government under Order-in-Council as being on similar lines to those taken by the Australian and Canadian Governments, who did so as the result of experience. The people and the House must be prepared to trust the Government not to abuse the powers given, but without those powers the Government could not carry on under the varying circumstances which were bound to arise from day to day. The second reading of the Bill was agreed to.