OPINIONS ON THE TARIFF.

Evening Star, Issue 7628, 2 June 1888, Page 2

OPINIONS ON THE TARIFF.

The 'Mataura Ensign,' while not agreeing with all the Premier's remedies, says he is quite entitled to speak of his management of affaira as a sober financial policy. The most objectional part of the Statement is the increase of the measure of Protection. . . . There is no provision made for raising the market price of oats, wheat, or of any other colonial product, and for this reason the Statement is not likely to be acceptable to the farmers. They must take what comfort they can from the Treasurer's assurance that the duties have been adjusted so as to assist the local manufacturers without any more pressure on the consumer than is inevitable. Mr W. H. Mathieson, carriage manufacturer of Invercargill, declares that the duty on spokes and hubs will handicap his trade *u a ruinous extent. The following recommendations from individual members of the Manufacturers' Association were forwarded officially to the Premier and Oity M.H.R s last night:—The New Zealand Drug Company suggested that provision be made for full drawback of duty on goods shipped from the colony, so that they might be privileged to do business with the other colonies, as they could with them. They also suggested that sulphuric, muriatic, and nitric acids Bhould pay the same rate of duty as under the Victorian tariff—viz ,5s per cwt. These acids were now free, and the business was handicapped by importations from the neighboring colonies. They further suggested that the duty on crude sulphur used for sulphuric acid making - viz., Is per cwt should be removed, and the article admitted free when imported for this purpose. Crude acetate of soda for the manufacture of acetic acid should also bear no duty, tlavoring essences and Soidlitz powders might easily bear 25 per cent. The jam manufacturers suggested that a duty of 5 per cent, be placed upon pulp and partially preserved fruits. It had boon made manifest that the present duty would in Dunodin certainly close all the jam factories, and thus throw out of employment 110 hands, which would bo a calamity in the present stato of our labor market. Mr C. Ziele (M'Leod Bros.) wrote stating that the duty on paraffin and Japanese wax, in his opinion, should be Increased at least to the same as stearine, in orderto encourage the manu f acture of this article in the colony. If a duty of 2d were placed on the imported unmanufactured article, as well as on the manufactured, his companylwould at once take stops to establish an industry the importance of whioh could not be over-estimated; and the enormous wealth known to exist in New Zealand in the shape of paraffin shale now lying dormant would most certainly be brought to the surface, and not only enrich the country, but also bo the means of employing a large number of people who were now leaving the oolony. Another great mistake had been made in taxing potash, an article that had always been free, ho believed, chiefly witli the object of encouraging the manufacture of soap. It would be noticed that other articles of similar nature for the same uses wf r« free as formerly, and he had no doubt the change waß quite unintentional on the part of the Government. He quite approved of the increases on paper, as at the former duty colonial manufacturers were not able to compete with the imported article. The ironfounders and engineers made the following unanimous recommendations : Mining machinery, which was admitted free, should be included in the 20 per cent, tariff, except special or patent gold-=aving apparatus, engineers and ironfounders being largely dependant on the manufacture of mining plant. They also suggested that engineers' tools come under the 20 per cent. list. Corrugated and welded flues admitted free should read "corrugated flues only," as welded flues were already being manufactured ih the colony, 1 and the duty on them would stop any further importation. All rivets of half an inch diameter and over should be included in the 20 per cent, tariff the same as bolts and nuts. The rivet-making machinery already erected in the colony was sufficient to supply the whole requirements of the country, and was only working six months in the year. Iron bridges and material for construction of bridges, wharves, etc , should be altered to read: Iron bridges and partly manufactured material for construction of wharves, bridges, etc., as at present it included raw material. Bar iron, pig iron, and plates should be admitted free. Mr R. Boenicke, manager of the Rurnside glue works, writes :—" I beg to correct an error in your paper of this evening, under the heading 'Local Opinions on the Tariff.' A representative of the oil and color trade ears that glue is not made in Dunedln, hut is made in Christchuroh and other parts of the colony. It seems strange that anyone in the oil and color trade should be unaware that glue is and has been made here for the last fifteen years ; yet; such is the case, and whoev r doubts the fact; can have proof positive by calling on me." The Manufacturers' Association have made the following recommendations re pulp and partially preserved fruits, and forwardta them to the Premier:—" It is manifestly an error to charge a duty of six times as much upon the raw material as is oharged upon tho manufactured article. Tet this has been done in the matter of the fruit duties. On the fruiterers' fruit there is charged £d per lb, but on the jam manufacturers' fruit six farthings. The latters' fruit arrives in such a state that it cannot be used for table purposes—a stato in whioh it necessitate the employment of much labor to convert it into jam. tVe therefore beg respectfully to suggest that a duty be placed upon it—namely, pulp and partially preserved fruits—of 5 per cent. It has been made manifest to us that the''present duty will, in this City, certainly close all our jam factories, and thus throw out of employment 110 hands. This would be a calamity in the present state of our labor market.'' ' Our Wellington correspondent wj;es:"Representations.have been sent fromAuck- ' land against increasing the duty on aheep dip, as calculated to stop the use of Cooper's imported articles, described as §uperior to anything made in the colony. There are Southern ' members who deny this, and hold that the dip made in the oolony is wlcjely uaed and is equally i good." I

THE PKOTECTION LEAGUE'S RECOMMMENDATIONS. A general meeting of the Otago Protection League last night considered a large number of recommendations re the Tariff. Mr E. T. O'Connol presided, and Mr W. Ilutohison also attended. After careful consideration the following alterations of the Tariff wore agreed to:— UMBRELLA TRADE. Duty to be the sama on partially made umbrellas as on the made up article. Umbrella silk, 4sin and over in widtlj, free. Alpaca and sanella, free. Umbrella ribs in bulk, umbrella sticks, and all kinds of umbrella fittings, free. Silk, alpaca, and zanella, to be in the roll, and not cut up. PICTURE-KRAME MAKERS AND ARTIST*. In response to a petition from the pictureframe makers and artists, it was decided to recommend that 30 per cent, be placed on pictures and 25 per cent, on mouldings ; further, that the Government be asked to place 30 per cent, on imported oil paintings under L2 value, and ready - made frames, including mirror frames. JEWELLERY TRADE. That the proposals of the Conference be endorsed, the duties being the same as those imposed in Victoria IRON TRADE. Messrs Schlaadt and Bleck, on behalf of the iron trade, recommended that as malleable castings could be made here with advautago to tho trade a duty of 20 per cent, should be placed on them; and further, that all machinery, agricultural implements (except reapers and binders), and all forgings up to 5 tons, be subject to 20 per cent. duty. FRUIT. It was decided to recommend that fruit pulp and partially-p- esorved fruit bear the duties as rocommended previously by the League, which practically means a duty of about 5 per cent. MEDICINAL HERBS. Dried herbs, roots, barks, gums, and solid extracts, free. TURNERS' goods. Drawer knobs, curtain pole rings, gas blocks, curtain poles (coupled), roller skate wheels, and all other turnery, 25 per cent, ad valorem. UPHOLSTEUT. Gimps, leather bandings, buttons, tuft*, tapestry, and scuds for upholstery purposes, free. CLOTHING. Shirtings and cotton goods in the piece, free; but in the event of this not being carried, the duty on shirts to be raised to 35 per cent. SADDLERT. Manufactured saddlery and harness, also Gladstone bags, 25 per cent, ad valorem. BOOTS AND SHOES. Tho following resolution was carried: —" That the recommendations of the Conference re duty on boots and shoes be endorsed, especial attention being drawn to the necessity of making the duty per pair instead of percentage in value." [By Telegraph.] WELLINGTON, June 2. The Chamber of Commerce have passed the following resolution:—"lt is not advisable to discuss tho details of the Tariff until the House has determined whether it is possible to do without extra taxation. While not admitting the necessity of additional taxation, this Chamber are of opinion that the Tariff should not be amended in the direction proposed, as it raiseß so many complicated issues. The Chamber believe that a saving can be effected in the cost of education, and in the better management of our railways, which will render further taxation unnecessary; that the'proposed 1 per cent, primage duty is a most vexatious impost, and will give needless trouble to importers and the Customs officials, and is out of all proportion to the money to ba raised."