THE TARIFF.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XCVI, Issue 14432, 24 July 1907, Page 9

THE TARIFF.

v ... .. *_ — ■ THE DUTY ON BOOTS. At an open-air meeting in Cathedra] Bquare last night, called by the Independent Political Labour Leapr-.&, air J. Thorn, the president of the League, made some reference to the tariff proposals. The Government had,'he said, abolished the duty on motor-care, reduced it on billiard-tables,, and increased, it on boots. He had often said that he could not get heated on the question of the tariff, for it was beside the mark as far as the solution of the social "problem was concerned. The bootmakers of the colony, however, never asked for increased protection. A Not long ago the Trades and Labour \ Council appointed a Tariff Committee, and to this a definite report was presented by representatives of the boot manufacturing operatives to the effect that no increase in the tariff was detsired. The manufacturers, they said, made, far more money by importing boots and selling them than by making them themselves j and Avhen the tariff was increased, the importation actually increased, and the prices "to the cenEiimer were raised, the importers having taken advantage of the tariff to lajssr their prices. The bootmakers, rather than support an increased tariff, had offered to lend the Government £2OOO from their own funds, for the purpose of building a State boot factory, where there could bo manufactured a serviceable boot to be sold at a reasonable • price. The Bootmakers' ■Federation had sent two men as a deputation to the Government' to ask that that should bo done. And the Government had increased* the tariff. They could depend upon it that the people that «old boots now would make use of that increase and push up tho price to the public, so as more thoroughly to " skin " them than ever.

DEPUTATION TO THE HON J. A. , MILLAR. . [From Oub CoHßEaroxmsNT.] WELLINGTON, July 23. .A. deputation from the Wellington local bodies waited on the Hon J. A. Millar-this morning to protest against the increases in expenditure that would result from the'changes in tho tariff. The Minister, in reply, said that the desire of the Government was to foster New Zealand industry. Locally • made pipes were being used in tho largest water-worke scheme in the colony at Nelson, and pipes cast in the colony were used for the Waipori power Scheme. The Government wished facilities tabs offered to young men to learn trades in the colony. Tho remissions in. duty had amounted to £375,000, while the revenue from increased duties ■would he only £132,000. Every user of; steam machinery paid a duty of .20 per cent, - and the Government could not \admit electrical machinery rfree." Somo electrical appliances, Buch":as copoer or insulated wire, might foe, admitted" free., Ho had asked electrical -engineer^throughout the colony to assist hum, without securing any response. He had therefore put all the electrical appliances under one head- i iiig, though ho was still prepared to re- | commend a modification. '• I don't see why an electrical bell should bo called h druggists' sundry one day and hardware the next," said the Minister in conclusion, "so I have put it down as s an electrical machine-"

.' THE DUTY ON IRON PIPES. [P£K Press Association.! MASTERTON, July 23. The Borough Council to-night diar the increased duty on iron pipes greater •diameter than five inches. Tie duty in this clasij of pipes has been increased from 5 per cent to 20 per cent. This was considered a very serious matter for local bodies when carrying out gas, water and drainage work. A motion was carried entering an emphatic protest against tho increased duty, it was also decided to seek tho . co-operation of all local bodies in tho colony in'protesting, and to forward tii© resolution to the member for tho district.

TO THE EDITOB. Sir, —On reading your remarks in this morning's leading article, it occurred to mo the working classes might be under the impression that their boot . .hill will not bo inoreased by tho newtariff. Although a .manufacturer of boots and shoes to tho extent of £20,000 per annum, as well as a boot importer, I can assure them their boots will, under the new tariff, cost about half as much again as they do at pre6cnt. . Take a" working man's all-leather chrome lace boot, invoiced in England :it 4s. This boot will, with tho new duty of 15 per cent ad valorem, equalling IG£ per cent and Is lid per pair, together with tho various importing expenses and profits, cost them about 10s 6d. The new tariff will also increase the coat of boots and shoes for the working man's wife and children to the same extent. . Take, again, the factory girl's evening shoe, costing in England Is. The new duty on this article is Is lid, equal to 112 i per cent, and on felt slippers, costing 4d in England, the duty is 162 per cent. To tho merchants, manufacturers and other well-to-do people, there is no increase, in fact, on very liigh-class goods the duty has been reduced. With regard to tho statement that cheap boots and shoes are made by *'sweated " labour, the goods which I refer to above aro not made by " sweated " labour, and, so far as I could ascertain when in London a short time since, there was no such thing as "sweating" in tho boot trade. The cheapest goods aro mad© in the large factories by machinery. The importa-

£ lion of cheap American boots and shoes i has almost entirely ceased, the English - manufacturers now making equally - smart goods and giving better value '- than the American offers, o The statement that the retailers proi, for selling-imported boots to colonial ', boots is wrong so far as the smaller t retailers are concerned, the latter pree ferring, on tho contrary, to sell colo- - nial-mado boots, for the reason that - they do not -require to keep a large si stock, as they can replace the linee ' they sell daily, whereas, in the case of - the" imported article, it is, of course, * impassible to do so. 0 With regard to the remark that if • the boot manufacturers opened retail e shops the boots could be sold cheaper, a this is very doubtful, as the extra cost » of management of a branch shop in it- - self would be quite sufficient to satisfy mi independent shopkeeper. Besides, there would always be the risk of tho manufacturers coming to an understanding between themselves to exact extra profit out of the public.—l am, cto., ALFRED TYREE. 1 Oiiristehurch, July 23. t TO THE EDITOE ; Sir,—ln craving a little of your J valuable space may I, as a city retailer " in boots, mention that a great injustice ? will be done to working men and to ' women in increasing the duty on felt > dippers, goloshes and evening shoes. ■ These goods are not made in the col- > ony, and cannot possibly be made. " Great numbers of felt slippers, at Is a ' pair, are sold to poor old men and 1 women, also inmates of hospitals and ■ benevolent institutions. These goods ' will in future be 2s per pair, and the 1 poor people will have to pay or go without them. With these exceptions I think the'' tariff will be a good cno for the local industry, and will satisfy most people. Hoping that the Government will strike these lines off the list of inoreased duties, v-I am, etc., CITY RETAILER.