THE TARIFF.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8535, 14 September 1907, Page 5

THE TARIFF.

The House in the evening went into Committee of Ways and Means on the various amendments to the tariff schedule brought down in accordance with the promise of the Minister. These included some, fresh imposts; among others cotton (raw) 4d per lb. An objection was taken by Mr Allen and others to this latter item as.calculated to .kill a new industry which was struggling to establish a new market for mixed cotton and woollen goods. The Hon. J. A. Millar said that half a dozen of the largest woollen mills had represented that the world wide 'fame o" New Zealand woollens was i e'ng ruined by two mills by the use of cotton. Flannel made in New Zealand had Leen sold as pure wool in which there was an admixture of '65 per cent of cotton. In the Hon. Mr Millar's opinion cotton should not be used in rugs or flannels, and it was to the advantage of the colony to restrict the admixture of cotton and wool. Hence the restrictive duty. Mr H. G. Ell held that the mixture of cotton and 'wool made a better material for working people and enabled them to procure cheaper clothing. He admitted, however, that cotton should not be used in flannels or blankets. Mr W. H. P. Barber twitted the Minister with professing to assist local industries, while he was in this instance penalising a rising industry by imposing a duty on raw material equal to 100 per cent, of the value of the material. "All wool and nothing butwcol," was the burden of refrain of Messrs Hanan, Laurenson, Hardy and others. Mr James Allen said that the difficulty with the millers could be got over by compelling goods of mixed cotton and wool to be so labelled, and he did not object to the percentage of each being seated. The discussion is proceeding, and a very late sitting is expected.