THE IRON TRADE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10263, 15 June 1911, Page 5

THE IRON TRADE.

LANGUISHING IN THE DOMINION. DEMAND FOR INCREASE IN TARIFF. By Telegmph—Press Association. WELLINGTON, Last Night. A deputation of delegates from the Iron Masters' Conference waited upon the Minister of Customs. The deputation was introduced by Mr J. P. Luke, M.P., who said the iron trade had been languishing for a considerable time. They could not stand up against the oversea competition, so the ironmasters asked that the tariff be remodelled \so that, shops would be able to meet the requirements of the whole country and not merely be repair shops. The Dominion was now i sending nearly £1,000,000 away annually to buy imported machinery. ■ Mr Burt said the only way to raise the status of the ironmasters was through the . tariff. Many articles could be manufactured herrf if the tariff was raised. Unless something was done to remedy the existing state of affairs the engineering establishments of New Zealand would have very little chance of progressing. Mr Laurenson said the ironmasters had the assistance of the Associated Unions, also the executive officers of the labour organisation, who knew it was no use going to employers for increased wages while the shops were unable to get sufficient orders to keep the machines running full time. At present trade was terribly hampered, and would not go ahead until there was a scientific revision of the tariff. Mr J. L. Scott urged a protective tariff. This did not spell an increased 'cost to the consumer. He instanced the manufacture of cooking ranges, If there were more manufacturing in the Dominion ,it was . possible that wages would be higher tod the workers would be benefited.

Replying to the Minister, Mr Luke said a list had been prepared setting out the articles on which increased duties were desired.

The Minister said it was practically impossible to deal with the tariff during the coming session. He recognised that the industry was languishing, and it might he found necessary to raise die tariff on certain articles. The Government had to consider how far it would go in the matter of encouraging the development of the iron industry, but before doing anything it had to wait for Mr Cameron's report. He was not yet in a position to say whether or not a tariff Bill would bWbrought in„ ; It was not likely that farmers Vnd miners'would allow'the tariff to be increased unless their interests were conserved. If they were satisfied that the cost to the consumer would not go up, he was inclined to the belief that the majority of the members of Parliament would be prepared to support «ome measure for the encouragement of the industry. The only remedy he could see was to place the iron industry under the Commercial Trusts Act, and if the price to the consumer was increased under a protective tariff the duty would lie taken off again. There was no; great probability of Parliament raising the tariff all round without taking the precaution to safeguard the jcoiiGtimtar. Personally, he was fully alive to the fact that in regard to some articles manufactured should be encouraged by protecting them. Replying to Mr Robinson, the Minister agreed that it would be a great help if local bodies borrowing money from the Government had to expend the money in materials made up in the Dominion.