TEMPORARY TARIFF BOARD

Dunstan Times, Issue 364, 14 November 1932, Page 3

TEMPORARY TARIFF BOARD

DEPUTATION REPRESENTING VARIED INTERESTS

WELLINGTON, November 3

The appointment of a temporary tariff board, presided over by a judge of the Supreme Court, to make the tariff investigation promised by the Government, was advocated by a deputation representing the New Zealand Importers’ Federation, the New Zealand Manufacturers’ Federation, and the New Zealand Farmers’ Union, which waited upon the Prime Minister this afternoon. The Prime Minister replied that the object of the Government would be to get as impartial a tribunal as possible. Mr Edwin Salmond, president of the Importers’ Federation, said that although the views of the three organisations on the question of tariff were widely divergent, they realised that the agreement made at Ottawa practically defined the dominion’s tariff policy for the next few years. The Government had stated that the tariff would be carefully revised, and the deputation suggested that for this purpose a temporary tariff board should be established. Mr Salmond said business men were ineligible, as it was impossible to secure the services of one free from bias. The importers suggested that the board should have a judge of the Supreme Court as chairman, and that a qualified public accountant and a Civil servant be included.

Mr E. H. Feist, on behalf of the Farmers’ Union said the union was anxious to see the investigation carried out thoroughly and at the earliest opportunity. On the constitution of the tariff board they were not of quite the same mind as other organisations. Accordingly they proposed a body of five members, including a Government appointee as chairman, a representative of the Imperial Government, and representatives of the exporting, importing, and manufacturing interests. The Prime Minister said he thought the inquiry should be public. Britain was not asking to have representation on the board or committee, but simply for the right to give evidence. He was afraid that if representation on the board was to cover all interests it would be wide indeed. “ I think it is more important to have the men than to have them representing any special interests,’’ said Mr Forbes. “ The matter, however, will not come under consideration until after the session, early in the new year. Whatever we do we shall try to get an impartial commission to judge entirely on the merits of each case.”.