TARIFF BOARD

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 83, 8 April 1938, Page 12

TARIFF BOARD

FORMATION PROPOSED

WIDE SCOPE OF DUTIES

AUCKLAND SCHEME

A suggestion that a tariff board with advisory and appellate functions in tariff matters should be established in the Dominion was contained in a report submitted yesterday to the Auckland Chamber of Commerce council by a sub-committee of the council? executive. The report, which had been modified by the executive, was adopted and it was decided to forward it to the Associated Chambers of Commerce (states today's "New Zealand Herald").

"The suggested personnel is four members, the chairman, with a casting vpte, to be appointed by the Government to represent the' consumers in New Zealand," the report states. "The three other members, it is suggested, will be appointed by the Govrnment from panels of not less than three or more than five names submitted respectively by the New Zealand Farmers' Union, the New Zealand Importers' Federation, and th« New Zealand Manufacturers' Federation."

QUESTIONS FOR BOARD.

It was also suggested that several matters should be referred. by the Minister of Customs to the proposed board. Among the suggestions wera the definition and scope of preferential tariffs and any alterations of tariff rates or reclassifications involving alterations of rates. This' would not apply to routine interpretations, against which there would be a right of appeal. Other matters it was suggested should be referred by the Minister of Customs to the board' were measures contemplated to combat dumping and those contemplated' to assist industries by the granting of bonuses.

Several suggestions were • included which might be referred to the proposed board at the direction of the Minister. They were as follows:—Determination of value of goods for duty; the general effects and working of tariffs (Customs and excise); the incidence of rates of duty on raw materials and on finished or partlyfinished products; the effects of existing or contemplated Customs duties on industry and trade and the extent to which the consumer is protected from" exploitation; any other matters which the Governor-General in Council sees fit to refer to the board for inquiry and report.

COURT OF APPEAL.

"It is suggested the board should also act as a Court of Appeal against routine decisions of the Department and against decisions of the Minister where reports on matters referred to the board have.not been adopted without variation by the Minister," the report adds. The board could also act in that capacity where the incidence of tariffs had proved an undue hardship on some parties.

Different opinions were expressed on a proposal that before coming to a decision it should be obligatory on the board to hear all interested parties on oath, that hearings should be taken in public and the.board should in appropriate cases have power to order non-publication of evidence in official reports or in the Press.

COMPANY OBJECTS

INCLUSION IN AWARD

GAS-MAKING CONDITIONS

An application by the Acetone Illuminating and Welding Co. for exemption from the scope of the gasworkers* award was heard today in the Court of Arbitration. Mr. Justice O'Regaii presided, and associated with him were Messrs. W. Cecil Prime (emptoyers" representative) and A. L. Mon» teith (workers' representative).

Mr. H. J. Bishop appeared for tha company, and Mr. J. Roberts for tha workers.

Mr. Bishop stated that the firm had branches in Auckland, Napier, Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin, and was in business as engineers and manufacturers of oxygen, dissolved acetylene, hydrogen, and nitrous oxide. Evidence would show that by no stretch of the imagination was there any connection between work in the gasworks and the processes carried out by the'firm. '

The evidence would bring out six points of difference: That the gas industry supplied the general public, and the company the engineering trade; that the commercial gas used domestically did not need to be so pure, whereas the gas produced by the company was used in highly technical processes; that the company's product was* portable, being sold in cylinders, a% against distribution by main and pipe-line; that there were essential differences in manufacture; that in the company's processes the surroundings were clean and the conditions cool and healthy, with no noxious fumes; and that in' coal-gas producing works fairly hard manual labour was involved, whereas the company's processes involved technical and practical knowledge the' worker at the coal-gas plant was not required to possess. Evidence was given by Cyril D. Edmondson, secretary and assistant en» gineer of the company.

Mr. Roberts said that he stronglyopposed the application. The company had never allowed its workers to join or to form a union. When the Auckland workers wished for an agreement, they could not get one. When the Dunedin men wished to join tha Chemists' Union, they were opposed by the company. The union admitted the lack of heat or dirt in the manufacture of oxygen and acetylene, but. there were coal-gas workers, such as meter-readers and gasfitters, who had cleaner jobs. There was danger in carelessly handling both types of gas. Coal-gas was being compressed into cylinders, and was being used thus for cooking, heating, illuminating, and driving motors. The only reason acetylene was compressed was for cutting" through metal's. The men employed by the company did not belong to a union, and their closest working relations were the" coal-gas workers.

After a short adjournment, his Honour said that the Court was of the opinion that the men should come under some award, and that, despite the contentions of the employers, the gasworkers appeared to be most closely allied. He adjourned the matter, however, with the recommendation that the workers and employers should come together and discuss the position, with a view to concluding an industrial agreement, coming under the gasworkers' award, or applying for a separate award. Both, advocates stated to the Court that the parties had discussed tlie matter with representatives of the engineers during the adjournment. Mr. Bishop expressed the hope that an agreement would be arrived at tbli afternoon, '