The Dominion. SATURDAY, MARCH 12, 1938. THE CONSUMERS’ POINT OF VIEW

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 142, 12 March 1938, Page 10

The Dominion. SATURDAY, MARCH 12, 1938. THE CONSUMERS’ POINT OF VIEW

The framers of Customs Tariff Amendments usually have their attention so closely concentrated on the particular interests immediately affected by the changes contemplated that the effect of their decisions on the general public receives quite a secondary consideration. This fact is very clearly illustrated by the very valuable survey of the recent tariff amendments prepared by the Wellington Drapers, Clothiers, Mercers and Footwear Retailers’ Association, which we publish elsewhere in this issue. The association mentioned has taken what may be termed the consumers’ view—or, at any rate, the effect of the changes made on the pocket of the consumer—and it is a very dispassionate presentation of the case against additions made to an already over- * heavy tax burden. ' . . . The association is not opposed to local manufacturing interests. On the contrary, it clearly indicates its desire to deal in local products —whenever possible. What it objects to is what it terms the blanket method” of seeking to attain the ends desired; and the unfortunate reactions which have followed to the detriment of the general public. It does seem strange and unreasonable that large and experienced retail business interests, such as are represented by the Wellington Association, which act as intermediaries between the manufacturer and the consumer, should 'be completely ignored by the Government when framing its tariff amendments. Such an association from its experience and knowledge of the buyers’ point of view and requirements should be in a position to give sound and valuable advice, which would assist Ministers to avoid the imposition of needless hardship and be of practical benefit to all the interested parties. But in this case, as in others, they have been ignored, or overlooked. In this connection it is desirable that attention should be drawn to the iniquity, and often-times injustice, of the method pursued of introducing and imposing tariff changes. These changes are brought in overnight and without - warning. In many classes of goods the hardship inflicted may be light or may be. overcome in the case of increased costs by increasing the selling price of the goods affected. But in the case of drapers, boot dealers and others who deal in seasonal goods of a competitive kind, and also are committed to shipments already in transit, or to contracts entered into months ahead, there is a possibility of very serious losses being incurred, when the goods actually arrive and have to be sold in competition with similar goods which have escaped the higher tariff changes. As a matter of equity, goods actually in transit before the passing of the tariff changes might justly be admitted under the charges existing at the time they were shipped. This, at least, would give some minor relief.