THE TARIFF.

Evening Post, Volume LXXIV, Issue 17, 19 July 1907, Page 2

THE TARIFF.

PROTESTS FROM DUiXEDIN. [BT TIXEGHAPH.— «IKSS ASSOCIATION.] DTJSEDIN, 18th July. •At a meeting of representatives of electrical engineering firms in Dunedin to-day it was decided to send the following telegram to members of the House of Representatives.: — "The proposed increase in duties upon electrical machinery and appliances will have a laosfc injurious effect on our business,. There arc no electrical manufacturing interests in New Zealand to support. The new duties will increase, the price upon imports to such an extent as to retard business, and the revenue itself wil) suffer eventually. Trusting you will see your way to support a reduc- j l-ion."— (Signed by six local firms). ! A petition carrying the signatures of sixteen Dunedin importers is to bo forwarded to the Commissioner of Customs. It ttates : — "We honestly opine that wo nro expressing the opinions and desires of the rest of the boot and shoe importers of New Zealand, who number over a thousand, holding their own businesses and employing some thousands of hands. Did time permit, it is beyond question that each and every ono of tnese importers, together with thousands of employee!, affiliated in trade, would subscribe their names to this petition. As importers we wish to enter a strong protest against any interference with the existing tariff on boots and shoes, unless it be in the direction of a reduction of tho present duty. Although importers, wo are thoroughly in sympathy with the policy whicfi grants a fair measure of protection and assistance to all bona fido local industries, and whilst conceding this, it must bo remembered that The object of the tariff is, first, revenue, nnd secondly, protection. Any competent and fair-minded person mufct agi'&e that the present tariff nils theto two conditions as happily as any measnre possibly could in view of the difficult and divergent interests of trade, and tho best proof of this is to bo found in the experience of many years past." ' REASONS FOB OBJECTIONS. A BOOT AND SHOE TRUST. [BY TELECJRArH — OWN COKKr.StOSiiKKT.] DUNEDIN, This Day. The lengthy petition from sixteen Dunediu importers states, inter alia :— "As importers wo wish to enter a strong protect to any interference with the existing tariff on boots and shoes unless it be in the direction of a reduction of tho present duty. We view with great concern tho action of a small body of operatives in tho trade, and also o£ mnny mumbora of a much stronger organisation of shrfo manufacturers who arcs always worrying and seeking to aud th the duty, and who »>*»! on I}- =.t ptohib'tion. The manufacturers havo no ]UEt cuugc of (*r>niphidu. ngainst tho present tariff. Tho up-to-date fhoo manufacturer in New Zealand was never so prosperous as he is to-day, and he would be infinitely worse off under a prohibitive tariff. Tho operative in the Fhoo trade \va* never so well off as ho is today. Thelo is plenty of work nnd steady employment for all compeiru labour, together with a minimum* wage of £2 6s per week whilst any manufacture* will readily acjmit that it is nlon

I earning £2 15s and upwards per week whom he appreciates most,' and whom he is most anxious to retain. We are credibly informed that there ii a movement atoot to establish a trust amongst a few of the largest shoe manufacturers | in New Zealand, together with One of the largest tanners and leather manufacturers, for the purpote of controlling the market and fuing prices. 4ny idcrease in tho tariff will certainly tend to strengthen such a combination. Wo understand that a deputation waited upon tho department to urge the advisability of importing machinists, as the supply was totally inadequate to the requirements of tne trade, and factories were frequently at a standstill, owing to the lack of labour offering in this department. As a matter of fact, tho boot and shoe factories in New Zealand have entire control of all the strong work sold in tho colony, and for somo considerable time past have been uhubl« to copo with orders received for linea similar to those imported. The boot>nd shoe importers and their dependents, although representing a large section of the industrial community ofNNetW t Zealand, are not an organised body, but if they were this .rould be a petition for fair plajr which the executive of such an organisation would solicit, and \vhich we, the signatories, would now aek for sour consideration and assistance.','