THE TARIFF.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume xxix, Issue 7241, 29 July 1907, Page 4

THE TARIFF.

POINTS FOR CONSIDERATION

The attempt of the Government to evolve a measure of, tariff reform has produced the usual crop of deputations from persons and trades and retailers interested. The latest came from ihe retail confectioners, who waited in considerable numbers on the Premier and the Minister for Customs on Thursday afternoon. Mr G. Shirtcliffe put forward the views of the deputation dearly and concisely. The new tariff, he said, would inflict a very great hardship on a large body of people. According to the last census there are m the colony 36 manufacturers of confectionery, who employ 571 hands On the other hand, there are about 1100 retailers of confectionery in the colony, with from 5000 to 6000 people altogether dependent on the trade The new tariff would prejudicially affect them, especially in the cheaper grades, in re-o-ard to which the local manufacturers would be given a large measure ot prolection, thus prohibiting th? importation of considerable quantities ot this class of goods, the' demand for which would not be replaced^ the demand for the locally-made article. It seemed to him he said, thatSthe imposition o the new duties would offer a splendid opportunity to local manufacturers to Sgloit th/ public. The question was threshed out in considerable detail oy Vrfft Minister said the GoveJnme ci?t y;-ecognised that "ft™*"* the tariff was a very difficult thing to do From the representations made to the Government, the duty on lollies appeared to be unsatisfactory, and there had been a tendency in different parts of the colony to get them in at chocolate rates. On examination, they wouldy find that there had been an attempt to classify so as to make things easy for the importer and the departmental officers, and to prevent the almost interminable disputes which" had arisen. The intention was to assist the local manufacturer, with the object of giving increased employment in the colony. However, the Government would give careful consideration to the views of the deputation before that portion of tbe Tariff Bill was reached.— Evening Post.