THE RECIPROCAL. TREATIES.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVI, Issue 189, 9 August 1895, Page 2

THE RECIPROCAL. TREATIES.

MEETING} AT THE CHAMBER OF

COMMERCE,

A well-attknded meeting was held at the Chamber of Commerce rooms yesterday afternoon to meet and confer with Mr Button, M.H.R., on the subject of the proposed reciprocal treaties with Canada and South Australia) and other proposals being made in .Parliament affecting; the existing tariff. Mr M. Clark (President of the Chamber of Commerce) occupied the chair.

Mr Hutton addressed Mr Button on behalf of the Auckland Agricultural Association. He referred to tho fact that the Association represented 200 fruit-growers in thia province, and went over a good deal of the ground cravereed by him at the recenb meeting held re the proposed treaties. The Auckland province wa3 especially suitable for semi-tropical fruibs, and it waa very uudesirablo, in his opinion, that the fruit industry should be affected in this way before it had beaotne established on a good basis. Mr Hutfcon also urged the pormauenb appointment of Captain Broun, with a view to promote the fruit industry in this colony. Mr McCorquodalo, of the Northern Roller Mills, spoke of the disastrous results which would ensue from the imposition of 20 per cent, on flax sheeting. This material, ho waid, was used formaking paper bags, with which they supplied the public with flour. The effect of this imposition would be to raise the price of flour, and as tho small bags were in genoral use aniongeb working men it would be tbab clans of people which would be most affected. Another serious matter was that at all the mill 6 both in the North arid South, a large number of boys were employed manufacturing those bags, and \i fchis 20 per cent, were levied they would be all thrown oub of employment. Mr Lawry supported the previous speaker on the question. Messrs Maaefield, Ewing, Rosa and Sanford gave their opinions ou tho subjeeb of the effect likoly to ensue from tho introduction of salmon from Canada free. Each of these gentlemen was of opinion tho concession with Canada in this respect would kill the mullet industry in this part of the colony. Mr Bubton said the tariif should be arranged, nob with a view to protection bub to raise the revenue.

Mr Rosa said Mr Ward had said that Now Zealand mullet had been ablo to hold its own in New South Wales against Caua. dian salmon. As «« matter of fact, he did nob boliovo thab as many as 120 caeca had been Benb to New South Wales this year. At the presont time Canadian salmon could bo sold hi New South Wales at 4s a dozen. Mr Rosa aleo spoke of the oflect the treaty would have on boafcbuildera.

Mr Seegi.er pointed out oho effect of the treaty on the trade of Auckland to the Islands.

Mr Ellis (of Meaara Sharland and Co.) drew attantion to the results likely to accrue, in connection with the trade of chemists ai'id druggists. He laid before | Mr Button tho following statement : — "We would especially draw your attention to the loss to which wo, together with other perfumery, etc., bond manufacturers, would suflor if tho present proposula t<o abolish bond privileges in New Zealaud aftor the end of the present! year, are carried out. Wlieu this proposition was made, wo do not think thab the Government could have realised the extent to which loaa, not only of capital, but of labour, would roeult. When tho Tarilf Commissioners were in Auckland, accompanied by Mr Glaegcw, Secretary of Customs, v deputation from tho wholesale mid retail druggists hud a conversation with thab gentleman. Mr Glasgow mentioned at the time thab probably the bond privileges as regards spirit would be altered. At the timo he asked for suggestions, and atated that there would probably bo an increase of duty on imported epirituoun preparations, and ho appeared favourably disposed towards the proportionate excise duty beiu^ levied on spirit used for manufacturing in bond. Hitherto it has boon allowed to us free of duty. According to the tarid', an increase of duty has been made on tincburos and spirituous medicinal preparations, but on the other hand, there is no mention of an excise duty which would enable us to continue our local manufacture. We, therefore, bake id that! unless the matter is strongly represented to Government, that tho bond privileges will bo abolished in toto. There are five perfumery bonds in New Zealand, and in these large quantities of culinary essences, perfumery, tinctures and other spirituous medioinul preparations are manufactured. They give employment to nanny", and indirectly, to other trades such as printers, box-makers, etc. In instancing our owti case, ib would seriously cripple our business if wo are not to be allowed to manufacture in bond, for there are «so many of our manufactures and specialities for the manufacture of which spirib is necessary. Consequently, without) such privileges, ib would moan thab we would have to lessen our etafi", nob only in the manufacturing department, bub also righb throughout, tor we would nob have sufficient turnover to warrant us in retaining our present staff of counter assistants, office hands and travellers. You will thus | notice that this means a considerable number of people thrown oub of employment—a deplorable probability which can j only be averted by the Government ineeti ing our suggestion thab instead of abolishing the bonds they still bo allowed to continue under the condition that an excise duty of, say, up to 4s gallon rectified spirit, be levied on the spirib used in bond, which would be equivalent to an exciso duty of 6d Ib on the manufactured article, in addition to which we would have to paj for lockers' attendance. The piivilege ni having spirib duty free for manufacturing in bond has been enjoyed in this colony for about the last seven years, and has never played any important part in the revenue of the colony, as only 15 per cent, has hitherto been levied on the imported manufactured preparations. This should moot the Government, as it would mean a considerable increase of revenue go them, nob only on the spirit bub also on other materials which are used for manufacturing in bond, and on nearly all of which we have in the past, been obliged, and still, we suppose, will have to pay, the ordinary rate of duty. In oil othar countries in the world, except Great Britain, where the method of taxation is conducted on different line?, and under special conditions, are the privileges for manufacturing with spirit allowed. In fact, it is the aim of all other countries, Germany for instance, to encourage their manufactures by granting; this and every other possible privilege. We would aleo draw attention to the advantage on drugs, druggists'' sundries, and apothecaries' ware, of from 15 to 20 per cento, duty. This increase of 5 per cent, will be, in great part), a tax

upon ourselves as wholesale druggists and upon retail druggists generally, for the advance being so small, ib will be impossible, in many. instances, bo add ib to the present selling prices. We should have choughb tbab the Government), when selecting lines on which duty might be reduced, would have been almost certain to have selected medicines, drugs, and chemicals, etc., as lines to be admitted certainly aba lower rate of duty. Bub Government, we regret to notice, have acted in an altogether contrary manner." ■ Mr Campbell Baid he had expected the chemists would b9 the last to object to aay additional tax being pub on their goods, as he understood they were even now making a profib of about 100 per cent. ' Mr Ellis said that idea had been exploded lone ago. Mr Mennie, on behalf of those engaged in jam making, said all' the jam makers in the colony had great objection to the proposal to increase the duty on fruits preserved by sulphurous acid, for the reason that raspberries and black and red currants were not obtainable in the colony

The Chairman said ho understood representatives of the timber industry would be present, bub he did not notice any. Mr Dargavillo said that probably the reason was that Mr Ward had intimated he would drop timber from the Canadian treaty

Mr Lipßcomba spoke against the imposition of the duty on fresh fruib for jammaking. Mr Laurie, representing the confectionery trade, protested against the duty on essences and gelatine.

Mr J. Burns said the woollen industry would be also jeopardised.

The Chairman Baid his firm were buying certain cotton goods in Canada cheaper than they could geb them in Great Britain.

Mr Cooper, on bohalf of the shirb-tnakers, spoke of the harm which would be done to the industry by the duby on flannelefcco. Ho considered that cutting the flannelette into pieces under the supervision of the Customs officials would nob get over the difficulty.

Mr McLachlan pointed out thab the working classes would have to pay £10,000 a year more if the dur.y were imposed.

Mr King, representing Mr G. H. Powley, also spoke ugainsb the duty on flannelletbo,

Mr Sanfoid said that, since fiannellette could not be made in the colony, the duty was in the interests of monopoly, and not of the working classes.

The Chairman said he had gone into the question of shirt making. The lowest class of shirt now cost 24a lOd to make; under the tariff they could be imported for 23s Bd. The next class under the old rate coat 27s 9d, under the new rate they would coat 32s Id, and they could be imported for 30s 6d. The next line in the old rate was 32s 6d ; under the new rate they would cosb 37a 4d ; while they could be imported a5 35s 7d. It would thus pay him better to cloEe up hi 3 shire factory, and import from

Canada.

Mr Dargavilla Raid the arguments adduced by the previous speakers had be3i» all one aided. The fact was, flannelette was admitted free in the pa«t because there waa an impression that it waa solely for shirt making, bub occasionally when it was admitted free it waa used for dress pieces, co that as it really should have been imported aB drees pieces tha duty on this kind of article was being evaded. According to (ho report of tho Tariff Commission, tha principal reason for this imposition on flannelette being suggested was because the wooilen manufacturers had repreaeneed to the Commission that unless their goods were protected to this small extent, they would be very much injured and a large number uf their employees would be thrown oufc of employment. They should bo fair. There was tha report of the Tariff Commission on the table. It contained some 400 or 500 Closely-printed pages of evidence, and it was impossible °that the Treasurer, who had only recently returned from England, could have digested the whole of that evidence, and prepare those tariff proposals without making some alight blunders. ("Hear, hear.'M " Let us be just," »aid Mr Daryaville. As soon as the matter was fairly repre&onted before the Treasurer by both Bides, he might meet thorn in every way, so as to protect their industries. He (Mr Dargaville) was sorry to hear fche remarks of the previous speakers. They were not there for the purpose of condemning the Govorumenb and showing their party prejudices, but to try to get at the truth of the whole matter. He had known Mr Button for over 30 years, und he believed he would be fair and nob offer any factious opposition to Mr Ward, but assist) that gentleman in every possible way. ("Hear, hear.")

Mr Blomfield Baid the only person who had introduced party feeling was Mr Dargavillo himnelf.

Mra Jenkins representing the paper bag makers, spoke against the duty on paper. Moesrs Holle, Uewsbury and Parker also spoke about various industries,

Mr Lennox, as Chairman of the Brokers' Association, made strong objection to the proposed amendment in the mining law, by which broken?, their wives, children, and employees would be ineligible to bold shares.

Other matters were also broughb under the member's notice.