TARIFF AMENDMENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 176, 25 July 1907, Page 3

TARIFF AMENDMENTS.

TRADES COUNCIL RESOLUTIONS.

At the Trades and Labour Council last night it was decided to write to the' Minister for Customs, asking that a duty be placed on all printed paper bags coining into the colony, and that all imported printed matter should bear the printer's imprint. These bags should bs made in the colony, where factories were already established. They should be protected, and so keep in employment all the local labour possible.

Mr. A. Rosser Teferred to the duty on cast iron pipes, and said the local bodies were already protesting against the duty being increased on cast iron pipes of greater diameter than sin. The Mep-han-Ferguson locking bar steel works, established at New Lynn, employed a large number of men, and such works should be supported. On his motion it was decided: " That this colony supports the proposed imposition of the duty upon pipes coming into the colony ever oin. in diameter."

BOOTS AND SHOES.

PROTEST BY IMPORTERS.

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.)

WELLINGTON, Wednesday

A meeting of boot and shoe importers, retailers, and othere interested in the boot trade was held to-day to discuss the new tariff.

Mr. R. Hannah, who presided, said that as far as he could understand there was no manufacturer in favour of the revised tariff, and he was certain no retailer favoured it. Some of the items had risen from "25 per cent, as in the case of girl's slippers, to 150 per- cent. Rubber, goods would run up 148 per cent.

He moved a resolution expressing the opinion that the present proposals of the Government in respect to boots and shoes are particularly oppressive on wageearners, stating that the old tariff was pre-eminently satisfactory, and" declaring that it was certainly harsh -that 95 per cent of the public should be penalised for the purpose of providing a doubtful advantage to a small body of boot and shoe operatives.

The mover declared that the old tariff gave ample protection to the manufacturer.

The resolution was carried, and it was decided that all interested in the trade should wait as a deputation on the Minister.

COAL-MIXING MACHINERY.

WESTPORT, Wednesday,

Leading business men in the town have entered, through the JVlayor, a strong protest against the increase in the ■tariff of the duty on engine?, boilers, and electrical machinery, alleging that it is likely to seriously hamper the mining development. A gentleman connected with coal-min-ing in this district estimated that the extra cost of machinery shortly to be imported for one company w6uld be between £5000 and £6000.