TARIFF CONDEMNED.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 23 September 1927, Page 7

TARIFF CONDEMNED.

"ROTTGN!" SAYS MANUFACTURERS.

MR COATES IS CAUTIOUS

WELLINGTON, Last Night

A deputation comprising fifty members of the New Zealand Manufacturers' Federation waited on the Prime Minister to-night to protest against the new tariff. "From the point of view of the New Zealand manufacturers th e new tariff, to use a homely phrase, is rotten," declared Mr. J. Sutherland Ross, the president. The deputation' claimed that the new Customs schedule did not give their industries the protection to which they were entitled. The deputation asked that the secondary industries of the Dominion should be placed in a position to compete with overseas manufacturers, that a Tariff Board with power to revise the dotails of the tariff be established; that the dumping duties should be enforced; and that to qualify under the Empire preference clauses imported goods should be at least 75 per cent. British-made instead of 50 per cent, as at present. The Prime Minister, replying generally, said the tariff had been designed to give substantial benefit to those industries most beneficial to the country. Such industries should be afforded some help to enable them to [get on their feet in competition with those of older countries which had built up world-wide distributing and sales organisations. That did not mean the New Zealand industries should always be bolstered, as that would not be to their interests nor to the intcr,ests of the country. The tariff was most carefully framed. There were certain industries which it wa s felt would not be worth helping as their future was not likely to be. a healthy one. The question of a Tariff Board was one of policy and it was certainly a matter that the Government would consider. He would not like, however, to give any indication of possible action on th 0 point as he would have to consult his colleagues. Mr. Coates also promised to consider the request regarding the imposition of the dumping duties.