SECONDARY INDUSTRIES.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 226, 24 September 1927, Page 10

SECONDARY INDUSTRIES.

EFFECT OF TARIFF CHANGES. DEPUTATION TO MINISTER. NO HELPFUL SUGGESTIONS. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Friday. The manufacturers of New Zealand made further representations to the Government to-day on the subject of the tariff, a large deputation waiting on the Minister for Customs. There were some rather warm exchanges between the Minister and members of the deputation with reference to protection. Replying, the Minister pointed out that it was a very difficult matter for him to keep an open mind in regard to items in the tariff while he was being ; abused from all sides. During the lengthy discussion, the Minister questioned a statement that • they came to him as a united body. He • received no help, and no encouragement t |when he tried to help secondary indusi! tries. "Everyone is trying to cut the 'J other's throat," said the Minister. J Later he asked why there was not some organisation that could come to i him and speak on behalf of the whole [ industry. Representations were bein<* . made from all sections, and the whole , was very disconcerting. , Mr. Stewart observed that it was said » that a Minister for Customs could re- . vise the tariff once, but if he tried to do so twice he was a fool. That seemed to -be pretty true. 'It may surprise you I that I still believe in the secondarv . industries of the Dominion," he said He was trying to help them, but members of the deputation did not seem to appreciate the enormous difficulties he was labouring under. There had been b steady stream of opposition againH anv mcrease in duties, but he had heard no suggestions from manufacturers and industrial associations except from what he had read in the newspaper* reports, ihe whole thing had been left at the Minister's door to pet through a farmers parliament. He had no perjsonal feelings in the matter of settine

up the Tariff Board, but did not think Parliament would sanction a bodv which could have power to alter duties to any extent without the authoritv of Parliament. He was willing to submit the matter to Cabinet if the manufacturers wanted a board. A member of the deputation suggested that revenue should be raised more from income taxation than from Customs. Mr. Stewart: I don't like tie words income tax just non«,