TARIFF REVISION

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXIII, Issue 11770, 18 October 1932, Page 5

TARIFF REVISION

AN EARLY INVESTIGATION. AIR. COATES EXPLAINS) SECURITY OF INDUSTRIES. Tim effect of danse eight in trade agreement between New Zealand and Great Britain was amplified on Friday by the EL. Hon. J. GCoates. The article in question provide.; that New Zealand will institute an .inquiry iifio the existing protective duties, and where necessary reduce them as speedily as possible to such a level as will place the United Kingdom producer in the position of a. domestic producer. The investigation contemplated, said Air. Coates, would take place a* soon as it could he conveniently arranged. possibly during the next Parliamentary recess. [I would be a real investigation involving a genera] revision of tho tariff. It was to be noted that the Australian agreement provided that a review should he made ns soon as practicable by the Commonwealth Tariff Board on. existing protective duties, and that (he Commonwealth Parliament would bo asked to give effect to the recommendations of that hotly. The Canadian agreement provided for the appointment of a tariff hoard for (he same purpose, and the Canadian Pniliament would he invited to adopt its recommendations. “No such provision is made in our agreement,” added the Minister, ‘and it is not proposed to set up a tariff board in New Zealand. A decision will be made at an early date ns In tbe form tbe investigation will take.” Air. Coates said the statement that local industries would he sacrificed o r betrayed ivas absolutely fantastic. There was nothing in the agreement, that would prejudice Ihe establishment or growth of sound industrial enterprises in the Dominion. Further, New Zealand’s secondary industries would have ample opportunity to staTo their ease during the course of the inquiry.