Grey River Argus WEDNESDAY, August 22nd, 1934. THE TARIFF.

Grey River Argus, 22 August 1934, Page 4

Grey River Argus WEDNESDAY, August 22nd, 1934. THE TARIFF.

So strong' is the case for New Zealand secondary industries, that the Government has been forced to alter its original tariff readjustments. The. changes are sneli as to afford some protection lor local industry. Notably, 11m tobacco industry has obtained fairer consideration, with a higher import and lower excise duty, and a cut in the tariff designed for cigarette papei's. It has been also decided to give the motor body and motor assembling industries a. chance, instead of making an entire present of our market to British interests. The latter, however, are to have much consideration under the new policy, as it is designed to meet them, 'flic beet duties, import and excise, are lowered, it being said a reciprocal result may be an oversea. market for Dominion hops. With radio sets it is the object to give Britain priority, but an adjustment is made to avert the stoppage of cabinet manufacture

here. Dominion makers of electric batteries, cells, cooking and heating appliances are now to obtain 15 per cent, and 20 per cent, protection rerpect.ively, instead

of none; and likewise iron pipe manufacturers, while a. five per cent, increase in protection is extended to Dominion tinware and doors, and there is a concession also on Now Zealand nails, biscuits and one or two other items. Britain now is to obtain free entry for musical instruments, including pianos, which will compensate for the other alterations. It may be said that the changes mean an improvement upon the tariff as formulated on receipt of the ('ommissioii’s report, but it is doubtful if the eventual result in general may not be to lessen the opport unity for new Dominion industry. It is noteworthy that while the preferential tariff properly applies Io the other Dominions as well as to Britain, the concessions now being made, to the latter country arc not being meantime extended to ,the rest of th Empire. It is to be sincerely hoped, however, that means may be soon found to provide for a. much broader measure of reciprocity in our oversea trad ing, not only with other Dominions and colonies, but with foreign countries. That is the next tariff issue to be faced. It is well that

the Government should begin to see the need of giving Dominion industries not only tariff assistance where there, is reasonable scope for development but prior consideration to al], oversea industry if the resources are here to carry on such industries. It certainly may be said now that Britain did better than the Dominions at Ottawa.