CUSTOMS TARIFF.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 17018, 15 December 1920, Page 6

CUSTOMS TARIFF.

i CRITICISM OP REVISION METHODS (press association telegram.) > WELLINGTON, December 14. The impending amendment of the Customs tariff was discussed at a meeting of the General Committee of the Wellington Industrial Association tonight. "The chairman (Mr C. J. "Ward) reported that he had interviewed the permanent head of the Custonis Department, and had discussed with linn, matters connected with revision of the tariff. It appeared tin at the Government was proceeding without a definite policy on tariff matters. Enormous quantities of the goods now entering New Zealand were similar to goods that wore being manufactured by local industries. Many millions of pounds were paid each year for goods that . could be produced locally, but the Government was not giving manufacturers any lead or any indication of the directions in which amendment of the tariff would proceed. Mr "Ward said that t'no workers were given a large amount of protection by <the industrial laws, but the industries on which the workers depended wore not given a similar amount of protection. If industries were to be developed and strengthened in this country, they must have security by adequate protection. "Without security they could not attract capital. New Zealand's manufacturers would have to bestir themselves if they wcro » to secure fair treatment. The officers of tho Customs Department, it appeared, did not want to hear evidence on economic principles; they asked merely for evidftico about particular industries, and were allowing scant time for that. It was decided to set up a committeo to discuss tho matter with officers nf the Department of Industries and Commerce.