ORDER-IN-COUNCIL UNLIMITED

Auckland Star, Volume LII, Issue 282, 26 November 1921, Page 6

ORDER-IN-COUNCIL UNLIMITED

It has been said of the new tariff that it discloses no definite policy—that it is a medley of protectionist and revenueproducing provisions. There is, however, a very definite policy in the amending Bill introduced by the Government yesterday. It is a policy of fiscal government by unlimited Order-in-Council. The Bill means that when the tariff has been fixed by statute the Government can alter it ac it pleases by the simple process of issuing a notice in the "(Jazettc." By Ordcr-in-Council the general or highest tariff may be applied to any goods from any part of the British Dominions: by Order-in-Council there may be applied to the products of "any country" the tariff rates that tbat country imposes on New Zealand goods; by Order-in-Council rates set out in the three schedules in their application to classes of countries may be modified; by Ordcr-in-Council duties are to be held in suspense; by Order-in-Council the tariff in special cases may be altered for the protection of local industries; by Order-in-Council the Government may impose an ad valorem duty up to 25 per cent on any goods admitted duty free under the ' tariff, provided they come from a foreign ■ country. The Government is empowered to play with the tariff just as a child plays with a lump of plasticine. One moment it is a bail, and the next moment it is a table or a cup. Why have a fixed tariff at all. or go to the ,! trouble of allowing Parliament to discuss the proposed schedules? Why not j say straight-out that the tariff ie a detail of* administration, which should be left to the Minister of Customs? The motives beliind Uiis move may be excellent. The '»overnment wants powtr to stop dumping, to protect local industries, to nego- ; British. Hut to give such enormous ; power to one is surely contrary ;, to the public interest. Think of the ! opportunities it presents for special in- ! terests to influence the Government be- ■; h-ind Parliament's hack and in secret. If : there were a Tariff Board the proposal • ; to keep the tariff in a continuous state of J flux would be less objectionab'.o, but the power will be in one man'? hands, and ', there ie apparently only limited pro- : vision for requiring him to report to Parliament and obtain its approval. If : special ea=os arise in which it is deemed . ! desirable to alter a duty, the proposal should be lnid before Parliament with i the reasons for it. It is true that if : such case.-* arise in the recess damage may be done through delay; but it is , better to run this risk than to give such authority to the Minister of Customs. Similar unlimited authority was proposed in the original Britis-h Anti- . Dumping Bill, but despite the overwhelming Government majority in the House, the measure as it emerged into law was a much more moderate and '■ constitutional affair. The New Zealand ' Parliament should show a similar mdc.- . i pendence.