The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. SATURDAY, JULY 27, 1907.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2143, 27 July 1907, Page 2

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. SATURDAY, JULY 27, 1907.

THE EFFECTS OF THE TARIFF. Now that commercial men and the public generally have had an opportimity to investigate the alterations proposed under the now tariff, it becomes evident-that the Ward Government has suffered the usual penal.-,/ of trying to please everyone. Tin so-calied “free breakfast table is off-set by the removal of all duty froir. motor cars, which can be looked upon as nothing else than a son to the wealthy, whilst the increased duty on shoes appears to have been devised with spieoial consideration for the interests of a big boot manufacturing ring, which has its headquarters in Christchurch. With t-li-) concessions made in regard to such necessaries of life as sugar, currants, raisins, fruit, and cotton goods, there will be little dissent. They will represent a substantial saving to the neediest class in the community, and have no material effect upon the industries of the* colony. All outcry is being* made by Dunedin timber merchants against the proposal to reduce the duty on timber from 2s to Is per 100 ft, as they predict an inrush of timber from Tasmania and America. When the constantly increasing cost of local building material is considered, and its ultimate connection with the high rent problem, the special interests of the merchants referred to is scarcely likely to receive undue weight. Sir Joseph Ward has attempted to justify his proposed remission of duty on motor cars by the statement that these useful vehicles are now being used for trade purposes, and with steadily decreasing cost of construction they might be expected, provided no duty is levied, to become an item of general use in trade. Such a reason we have no hesitation in saying must surely- be based on extraordinary- optimism. In Christchurch, which is the most adapted of the chief centres for motor traffic, only the two largest drapery concerns make use of the motor vehicle for ordinary trade purposes, and the time is still far distant yylien it will be used by the average tradesman. An important point" in this connection also is the fact that some of the leading coaclibuilders have now taken up the work of constructing the bodies of motor cars, and to remove the duty entirely would probably mean the extinction of a promising new industry. Chief dissatisfaction, however, appears to be felt in regard to the increase of duty on certain classes of boots and shoes. There is no question but Neyv Zealanders spend far too much on imported footwear, but the fault lies very largely in the insane prejudice many have against the goods of their own country and to. some extent this prejudice is ministered to by the conservatis i of our manufacturers, who do not sufficiently study the requirements of their customers. There are of course some anomalies in the ex-, isting tariff which could well be met by- an increased duty in some cases and a. decrease in others, but the trouble appears to be that the Government has made a most unfortunate selection of the mods it has chosen to protect. In a recent interview with the Evening Post, Mr. James Hannah summed up the position

thus:—“lf a man'wants comfortable •slippers to wear while going down to his free breakfast he will have to pay an exorbitant price for them under the new tariff. When the tariff is closely examined some peculiarities are very noticeable. The protective portion covers a lot of branches of industry that do not exist here. With regard to men’s and women’s walking shoes and boots, I do not see that anybody has anything to complain about, for these goods can be manufactured in the colon}’, providing the

labor is procurable, but it is a different matter with articles that are not

made in New Zealand.” Then he gave instances of English goods that would he very appreciably increased in price. Women’s felt slippers, formerly subject to 25 per cent, duty, are to carry an impost of 100 per cent., which will swell the present selling price from Is 3d to Is lid. The duty on children’s felt slippers is to go. to 150 per cent,, according t} the Government proposals, bringing the price to the wearer from Is to Is 9d. Women's evening shoes, with a rise from 25 per cent, to 80 per cent., would advance from 3s 6d t) os a pair. Gymnasium shoes, with rubber soles, would jump from 3s to 4s Gd under the stimulus of a 65 per cent, increase in. the duty. Some

lines of gymnasium shoes, not obtainable in England, are got from America. Under the old tariff they paid 37-i per cent., but thev are assessed at, 148 per' cent, in the new list, and this will lift them from 4s 6d to 7s Gd a pair, retailed. “Is it possible that the Government’s idea is to make an : opening for local enterprise in these lines?” the reporter asked. Mr. Hannah smiled. '-‘The local mamij facturers won’t touch these lines, he replied. “They are low-priced stuff that there is no money in. Felt slippers and evening shoes can t and won’t be manufactured here, and there is uo chance of making gym*

naaium shoos at all. . D , ‘ ”“ s Chants have also gone uuo tins qncs tion, and sixteen havo loiuanhd tho following petition to the Govermnon t: -"As unportem ' o « h to on tor a strong protobt to any n torlercnco with the existing taiill on boots and shoos unless it bo m tilt diioction of a reduction of tho pr‘>Ben' duty. Wo view with great lo icorj, the action ol a small body of operatives in the trade, and also ol many members of a much strongoi organisation of shoe liuiiiu acturois who aro always Worrying and seeking to add to tho duty, and who anil only at prohibition. The manufacturers have no just causo of complaint against tho present tariff. _ the im-to-clai3 shoo manufacturer in Now liuu! was never so prosperous air he i is to-day, and he would bo infinitely worse olf under a prohibitive tarilt. The operative in the shoe trade was never so well olf as ho is to-day. There is plenty of work and steady employment for all competent labor, together with a minimum wago ol 5s per week, whilst any manufacturer will readily admit that it is men earning £2 15s and upwards per week whom ho appreciates most, and I whom ho is anxious to retain. We are credibly informed that there is a movement afoot to establish a trust amongst a. few of tho largest shoo manufacturers in Now Zealund, together with one. of the largest tan- ' nors and loatlior ‘manufacturers, for tlia purpose of controlling tho market and fixing prices. Any increase jin tho tariff will certainly tend to strengthen such a combination. We understand that a deputation wait- ; od upon tho department to urge the advisability of importing machinists, ns tlve supply was totally inadequate to the requirements of tlio trade, an l factories wore frequently at a standstill, owing to tho lack, of labor offering in this department. As a matter of fact, tho hoot and shoe factories i n Now Zealand havo entire ' control of all the strong work sold in the colony, and for some considerable time past have been unable to cope with orders received for lines similar to those imported. The boot and shoe importers and their dependents, although representing a largo section of the industrial community of New Zealand, aro not an organisod body, buo if they were this would be a petition for fair play which the executive of such an organisation would solicit, and which wo, the signatories, would now ask for your consideration and assistance.” It is evident from the foregoing that the tariff proposals will bo the subject of lengthy and keen discussion in the House, and many alterations are likely to be made before they are placed on the Statute Book. It is undoubtedly a sound principle that as far as possible New Zealanders should manufacture their own goods and keep the work in this country, but in endeavoring to achieve this desirable end wo must be careful to avoid tlie dan(tovs that aro referred to by tho Dunedin petitioners.