BRITISH IMPORT DUTIES

Hawera Star, Volume LI, 20 February 1932, Page 7

BRITISH IMPORT DUTIES

POSSIBLE ADDITIONS ADVISORY COMMITTEE PLAN IMPARTIALITY OF MEMBERS. APPROVAL IN COMMONS. British Official Wireless.) Received 1.30 p.m., to-day. RUGBY, Feb. 19. During the debate in the House of Commons on the Import Duties _ Bdl the clause establishing an advisory committee which will be empowered to recommend the imposition of duties additional to the general ten per cent, ad valorem duty was passed. The Chancellor, Mr. Neville Chamberlain, said that although the word judical did not appear in the clause this bodv was going to be independent of the Executive and not subject to it The fact that members were appointed for three years gave them the necessary independence. It was essential to secure the services of persons with the right personal qualities. Although a civil servant might properly be a member it would not be desirable that be should be chairman because that might give rise to the idea in the minds of the public that it was a Government Department subject to the influence of instructions of a Minister. Tt would be inappropriate to appoint as chairman a member who had been long associated in an active capacity in the conduct of a- manufacturing or industrial business or had been a representative of a Trade Union for tlie committee must preserve an attitude of impartiality. Nor did they want as chairman a distinguished economist. They wanted a man who had a practical working knowledge of business although not himself connected with manufacturing or distributive trades and one who would command public confidence.