THE COST OF LIVING.

Press, Volume L, Issue 15016, 10 July 1914, Page 8

THE COST OF LIVING.

INCIDENCE OF PROTECTION,

MINISTER'S "CLEFT STICK."

DEMAND FOR HIGH DUTIES

(srrxur. to "tee tbess.'') WELLINGTON, July 9. A knotty economic problem which ha an important bearing on the questio of reducing the cost of living wa raised by a deputation of timber work ers during an interview with the 3lini£ ter of Customs (the Hon. F. M. ii Fisher) to-day. Mr C. F. Meyer fCanterbury) sail that there wa-s a complaint, cspecinll; in as to tho largo quantity o foreign doors and other joinery whicl was now coming into Now Zealand particularly to Dunedin, from certaii countries, notably Sweden and Norway He said that the importation of tin loreign doors had recently doubled I'his. he said, was unfair alike to tb< employers and employees. In New Zealand there were employers who hat expended largo sums oi money in installing machinery for tho purpose oi manufacturing joinery, but unless thej sot moro protection they could not compete with the foreign article.'Consequently a number of joinery machines were lying idle. The present duty on the doors was 30 per cent., and it was desired that this snouid be increased to at least 30 per cent. The people to whom these doors wero consigned were men who merely acted as middlemen, and turned over the doors to tho retailers. This was not fair comjictition with those who were endeavouring to build up a local industry. If this state of things continued, a large number of New Zealand tradesmen would bo thrown out of work. Although it was understood that tho only immigrants who were assisted by the Government to come to the Dominion were farm* labourers and domestic servants, it was surprising how many of these people found their way into other industries. , Mr Meyer also said that patterns of mouldings, etc*, used iv New. Zealand had been sent to Sweden and Norway, and that this joinery was manufactured there by cheap labour and sent out here. He also repeated the request made to the Prime Minister yesterday that an extra duty should bo* placed on small sizes of imported timbers, such as Oregon pine. Mr E. Phelan (Auckland) said that it was now becoming the practice to import Oregon pine in laths, and ono employer- had told him that he had been, compelled to close down his machinery on that account, as he could ■ not compete, with those importations. Ho thought an extra duty should be imposed on all sizes, under 12 by 12 °r-ite equivalent. The workers did not object to Oregon coming 'in in bulk, as in dry weather when .kauri logs were not available it gave employment to workers. The concession allowed m regard to long lengths; however, should be reconsidered," as advantage was taken of it by getting the timber out jn these long . lengths 7 and then cutting, them in half. - j NO INCREASE OF DUTIES THIS YEAR. Mr Fisher said that nothing, would bo done so far as the tariff was concerned without bringing .it before the House, nnd the questions referred to wero not likely to>be dealt-with this year. By asking the Government *lto grant increased protection to various industries, and at the same time- to re- : dues- the cost of living to the Workers— he-was not referring to the; timber workers more than any 7 other^—they wore putting the Government in a cleft stick, hdicn particular trade' was. asking for increased protection ui>-to and over 50 per cent., and in the case of the printing trade, for instance, to morethan 100 per cent, on certain articles. 3 hey. could not go on increasing -the duty in this way, and at the same time reduce tho/x>st pf living. '.' "The tfto things," the Minister wenfe on to say, "are irreconcilable. You must.make up your minds that'if you are going to improve the conditions of the industries in this country by increasing the Customs duties with,; a view, to obtaining an increase in wages, you are gOmg to boost up the cost of living. It may be the fortune of the LaboUr Party some day to get into power m this.country,-;and if so it will find that it cannot put up protective duties and at thesame time carry Out its pledge to reduce the cost of living,'«'. The Cost of Living Commission, which sat >n,1912, Mr Fisher, added, had even gone a long way in the direction of suggesting that we should gradually push our* industries overboard. NEW ZEA£JIND ? teuSTRIES. .Mr Aloyer said that many articles ii_rpofted were ho better: tnai :the New Zealand article. ■-;-': - . Mr Fiisner:'These imported goods you speak of have to, come 13,000 miles; and wnenthey got here they to jump a. barrier of a 30 perHtJent-Vduty. ts . that not aTeasonabte tariffip! S ■MrMeyer: It does not work out accordingly. | .•)./;;'"''XV-" '■■:■>..■ Mr Fishfef: Can:you;tell-me- why?-''--■ JlrvPhelan: Cheaper labour: is the mam-cause. ■> > - . r . -..•" .-, •'-' Mr Fisher: The doors and sashes *ou speak of;go into the ordinary homos 1 suppose? :•■':: ,-■;. ■;.■■/-:.■'■ .;■•■''■ ■=' .Mr Meyer: Y'es,.if they are.cheaper than ours. <• • : . f. w*? re p!y w> another remark 3lr I-isher said that if they; could get New /ealanders to bny New Zealand goods i„u °" i Set over mndk "<* tho difficulty. In some cases New Zealand manufacturers,! in order to sell their goods, put a foreign brand on tnem. - ' ..." Mr Phelan: That should bo put a stop to. :-r j Mr Fisher: Yes, but many employers J and employees- ask that it should 'not J be stopped. ■ Mr Meyer said that the' employers ! V£ 68 _* the boot trade had ' practically agreed as to the advisability = of putting the New Zealand; brand on 1 Now Zealand boots. , .Mr.Fisher repeated: that: nothing i coald be done this year in regard to 1 the revision of the duty on the articles l mentioned. i