THE NEW TARIFF.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XCVI, Issue 14428, 19 July 1907, Page 9

THE NEW TARIFF.

j THE PRINTERS SATISFIED. I I Members of tho printing trade goneri ally ©sprees. eauslaction _at the aitcva--1 tioii of' the duty on handbills, proj graiiunee, oto., from 20 per cent «d i valorem to 3d per lb. The Iviacsttr ' i J ij a tors' Association i u DunccUu v. ; ae i always in favour of the change and tin I i cca ,i Association concurred, with the 1 southern. One printer stated that the i principal reason for the change wae i rmit circulars were primed in London j jjy the mil lion, and the larger the parI col sent to Now Zealand tho lower the i value could bo rated, so it was. possible that the duty could ho greatly decreased. Frequently circulars wero onclosed in cases of goods, ostensibly as packing, and were rated as being of little or no' value, so that they were almost exempt from duty. Tho now tariff, however, made such evasions, impossible, and tho bills would bare to be charged by their weight. There would be little or no difference in tho actual duty, but tho new method of computation would make the application of tho Customs charges fairer. A FARMER’S OPINIONS. Interviewed yesterday regarding tho proposed, tariff concessions, Mr 1). douce, president of the North Canterbury 'Executive of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union, said that the concessions in tire proposed tariff alterations were on a liberal scale. Farmers would be, pleased to find that the Government recognised the necessity of leaving the duty on wheat and flour as it was at present. It was practically tho only protection that tho farmer asked for, and the industrial classes should not begrudge some slight protection to the farmer in return for the large amount of'’protection they received. Those who advocated si' remission of duty on flour appeared to think that flour was the only necessary of life. He believed that the retention of the duty on flour and wheat was just as much in the interests of the consumer as of the producer. Tito profits on wheat growing in recent yeans had not been excessive, and if the duty was removed and the colony became liable to be flooded with wheat and flour owing to a prosperous season in Australia, the Now Zealand farmers would decline to grow wheat in sufficient quantities for home consumption. They would not take the chance of Australia having a poor harvest. The consequence would be that tiro consumer in the colony would often bo at the mercy of other countries over which he had no control. The alteration of duty on potatoes from 20 per cent to £1 a ton was a good tiring. It would give the New Zealand farmers all the protection they needed, and at the same time would ease the consumer when there were short supplies and price® ruled high. AUCKLAND VIEWS. [Pan Press Associatiok.] AUCKLAND, July 18. Mr A. J. Eatrican, a largo importer of groceries and confectionery, states that the alterations in the tariff are, speaking generally, a step in the right direction. “ The biggest feature,” he says, “ is the placing of sugar on the free list, which will have the effect of giving a great impetus to tho manufacture of jam and confectionery, fruit canning, etc.” He also points out that tho duty on liquorice has been advanced from 20 per cent to 3d in the pound, which he contends is not warranted, as there is not any liquorice manufactured in tho colony. As regards catsups, sauces and chntneys, the duty has been advanced from 20 per cent to no leas than 4s per gallon, which is also absolutely prohibitive. Ho thinks, too, that candles should have been left where they were, instead of being loaded with another halfpenny per pound, and that the duty on paraffin wax should have been reduced by one farthing in the pound, instead of being increased by that amount.

Mr Ivor Evans, manager for Briecoe and Co., hardware importers, elates that the thing which struck him most was the raising of duty on cartridges by 2« 6d per 100, which meant an increase of 57£ per cent, and would give a monopoly to the Colonial Ammunition Company. The National Defence League was doing its utmost to educate the young idea to take up shooting as a national pastime, but the Government, hy its action, would give its efforts a great set-back.

WELLINGTON OPINIONS. [FSOM OITR CoHJtESPOKDKNT.] WELLINGTON, July 18. Some representative Wellington opinions in regard to the tariff axe published in this evening’s “ Post.” “ It is really a very good tariff, and we hare nothing to grumble about,” said a fruit dealer. “The tariff leaves fresh fruit unchanged. One alteration there is, and it will bring jov to the heart of the consuming public. It has been decided to allow tho importation of grapes with a duty of Id per lb. Interested people have for years past endeavoured) to induce the Government to remove the ban on the importation of' this most luscious of fruits, but hitherto in. vain, the bogey of phylloxera being held up in excuse. This concession will provo an immense boon to the general public. The grapes will mostly come from South Australia, and those who saw the displays of the fruit at tho late Exhibition will need no further recommendation. New Zealand 1 growers will not be enraptured with the proposal, but the consumer will he delighted, as these competent to judge assert that the best and freshest South Australian grapes cun bo retailed bore ait N tid per 11). A concession has also been .made in regard to nuts. In future all nuts will cuter free, except walnuts, which have a duty of 2d nor lb. Ah a result, Brazil nuts and Barcelona*! will retail at 2d a lb cheaper than hitherto, peanuts bd a hundred, pounds cheaper, whilst almonds, more particularly Jordan, will he 3d per lb cheaper.” “The removal of tho duty of 2d on.dates and prunes will loud to a tremendous consumption,” said tho “Post’s” informant. “It means that the retail price for dates will bo about Sd per lb and prunes about 4d.” A wholesale importer of confectionery said that the now tariff was going to adversely affect tho importation of the better lines of confectionery, «uch lines as were not manufactured in tho colony. Another penny per lb had , been placed upon confectionery, and j this vas equivalent to one hundred per cent ou tho cheaper lines. “Of course,” lie said, “the public won’t got the benefit of the increased duties; the benefits will all go to the local makers, who- already had sufficient protection. With the added tariff and tho reduction of sugar by id per lb the local makers of confectionery will be working little gold mines.” He added that tho retailers in the trade looked upon tho increased tariff with aversion, because it would tend to limit the range of selection of goods and put dealers too much in tho hands of the New Zealand manufacturers, who made only cheaper Jines. “Surely the suggestion to place motor-cars on the free list cannot be taken seriously,” said a carriage builder. “If it is proposed to admit the

| necessaries oi life fr eo as far as pos- | .dble, why not add another 15 per cent t for revenue purposes to this item above | all or even more, to make good I any deficiency.” I It is claimed that the increase in I the duty on cartridges and empty | cases will bo objected to by fanners, | who are required to keep down the I rabbits. | The housewives and heads of families 5 arc not represented amongst the people | uucrvie.u'ed by the. “ Pest,” but they i! arc as veil pleased in Wellington as in I other portions of the colour.

DUNEDIN PROTESTS. [l* KOM Our. OoKUKSCONDJENT.] . DUNEDIN, July IS. Dimedm js already to the for© with tp'o tariff protests. A lengthy petition, bearing the signatures of sixteen Dunedin importers, to be forwarded to the Commissioner of Customs, states:— “As importers wo wish to enter a strong protest to any interference with the existing tariff on boots and shoes, unless it be in the direction of a reduction of the present duty. Wo view ■"dtb great concern the action of a! small body of operatives and also many members of the much stronger organisation of shoe manufacturers, who are always worrying and seeking to add to the duty, and who aim only at prohibition. The manufacturers have no just cause of complaint against the present tariff. The up-to-date shoo manufacturer in New Zealand was never so prosperous as to-day, and would, he infinitely worse off under a prohibitive tariff. The operative in tiro shoe trade was never so well off as ho is to-day. There is plenty of work and steady employment for all: competent labour, together with a minimum wage ci' £2 5s per week, whilst any manufacturer will readily admit that there are men earning £2 15s and upward per week whom ho appreciates most and is anxious to retain-. Wo are credibly informed that there is a movement afoot to- establish a trust amongst a few cf tho largest shoe manufacturers in Now Zealand, together with one of the largest tanners and leather manufacturers, for the purpose of controlling-phe. market and fixing prices. Any increase in the tariff will certainly tend to strengthen such a combination, Wo understand that a deputation waited upon the Department to urge the advisability of importing machinists. The supply was totally inadequate to- the requirements ol th© trade. Factories were frequently at a standstill owing to lack of labour offering in this department. As a matter of fact the boot and shoe, factories in New Zealand have entire control of all the strong work sold in. the colony, and for some considerable time past- have been unable to copo with orders received for linos similar to those imported. The boor and shea importers and their dependents, although representing *a large .section of the industrial community of New Zealand, are not an organised body, but if ‘hey were this wo>ukl bo a petition for fair play which the -executive of such an organisation would solicit, and which w© tho signatories would now ask. ! ’

At a meeting of representatives of tho electrical engineering firms in Dunedin to-day it wars decided to tend the following telegram' to- t-be Speaker and members of the House of Representatives:—“The proposed increase in duties upon electrical machinery and nnnliances will have a most injurious effect on our businesg. There are no electrical manufacturing inte’-'-sts in Vow Zealand to support. The new duties will increase the price noon imports to such an extent as will retard business, and the revenue itself will suffer eventually.”