TARIFF COMMISSION

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 53, Issue 287, 15 September 1933, Page 7

TARIFF COMMISSION

AN EXTENSION OF TIME. NO LEGISLATION THIS YEAR. ''Special to the " Guardian.") WELLINGTON, September 14. The Gazette to-night contains notice that the period within which the Customs Tariff Commission shall report has been extended until January 31, 1934. The commission will begin its sitting at Ohristchurch on Friday, September 22. .Referring to the extension of the time in which the Commission is to furnish the report, Mr Coates said,: —

"When in May last the Commission was appointed it was fully expected that the result of the investigations would have been available in sufficient time to enable the Government to give full consideration to the report ana introduce the necessary amending legislation during the coming session of Parliament. The chairman of the Commission, before going south, informed the Government that the report could not bo available this year owing to the large volume of evidence offering, and asked for an extension until January 81 of the .time in which the Commission is to make its report. It is regretted that the Commission's report will not. be available until the date mentioned, but after consideration of all the factors it was considered advisable to take the course indicated, and it will not, therefore, be possible to deal with the necessary legislation this year. "The Government is fully aware of the disturbing effect which alterations iu the tariff have on the business of the mercantile community, and it is their desire that the investigation now being 'made should be as complete as possible in order that a Customs tariff may be devised which will meet the conditions of the country for some time to come.

"This statement is made how as an indication to the business communitv that alterations in the tariff cannot be effected at an early date.

"In the normal course of events Parliament would assemble some time next June, but in view of the impossibility of dealing with the tariff this year, consideration will be given to the question of adjourning Parliament at the forthcoming session,'or calling Parliament together early next year to consider legislation regarding the revision of the tariff." EVIDENCE AT DUNEDIN DUNEDIN, September 14. The Tariff Commission this morning heard evidence on behalf of New Zealand Milk Products, Ltd., who asked that the present duty on imported condensed milk, which is 25 per cent, for British and"4s per cent, for foreign, should be maintained. Further evidence was also heard on behalf of the Biscuit and Chocolate Confectionery Association, and on behalf of the cocoa manufacturers of Great Britain. A request was made that the duty on cocoa should be reduced from 3d to Id per lb. Otago Iron Rolling Mills, quested that the importation of iron and steel bars from foreign countries be subjected to duty of £3 10s per ton, from Australia and Canada of £2 10s and from Great Britain, free as at present.

Mr H. F. Sincock (general manager of Donaghy's Rope and Twine Company), made a request for retention of the present tariff, with the inclusion of rope o.2in in circumference and over now on the free list. He claimed that an unfair tax iiad been placed on New Zealand manufacturers by the Unemployment Board subsidising by £4 per ton all exported New Zealand fibre. This meant that Australia, Great Britain and other oversea buyers of fibre purchase f.o.b. at £4 per ton less than was possible for the New Zealand manufacturer.