TARIFF REGULATION.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 133, 5 June 1919, Page 8

TARIFF REGULATION.

AtTSTKAUAN METHODS. OVERSEAS iar.MPINfS, i3y Teleeraph. Pros Assoeiarlon.) WELLT.VI ;T( IN. We.lnesday. Civing evidence hefore the Industries Committee to-day. Mr. W. X. Montgomery. Comptroller of Customs, described trip mca-nre.- t:ike:i in Australia to resulite the tariff. A tarilT hoard had been established, liavinw jjeucral functions relatinp to trade and industry. The hoard had no power to amend tariff. It merely made recommendation*. He understood tie recommeiidaHoris hail nut had very much influence with Parliament in Australia. The process ~f tariff amendlnent in Australia was the same as in New Zealand. Ind-r the Vustralian tarifi- .Yew Zealand was treated as a foreign country, while N" ow Zealand a ye Australia preferentiul treatmen;. '"The reciprocal tariff treaty arranged with Australia l.y Mr. F. M. B. Fisher lapsed liefore completion, owincj to a chanse in Government in the Commonwealth. There had heen cases of the deliberate dumping: of oversea- poods in Xe.v Zealand, with the object of *illinn a local industry. Replying to a r|ueetion. Mr. Montgom. cry said the Government had no special power at present to prevent dumping from overseas countries, hut he had sub mitted a clans,, .omewhat similar to :1k law in operation in Canada. The clause had the approval of the Minister foi fiHtoms. It was not proposed to inter fere with rl umpinir in cases w'nere nr local imlustrv wa- threatened. He be lieved New Xenland should have an evolutionary tariff instead of a fixed one The e.vistinL' UtrifT was not sufficiently "!nstic. an! -here was no dou-bt it li-id hampered the establishment of industries in the Dominion. He had prepared an nmendment tv the Customs law. whk-li in- iin.li.r-- ! <b~ Minister was prepared t.i place heiurr Parliament at the first opp irninity. The amendment v, as d<--sifTur.l to rectify anomalies and rcmovr con ii: io IIS that ha:l heen injurious tc. New Zealand manufactures. Tiic pl.ause provided that in the case of an article admitted free the Minister should have the power to imnose preferential duty ir favour of the British Dominions.