THE TARIFF.

Marlborough Express, Issue 203, 28 August 1915, Page 3

THE TARIFF.

AND THE COST OF LIVING

NATIONAL GOVERNMENT'S PRO-

POSALS

The questions of the Customs tariff and the cost of living were referred to in the following terms bjT Sir Joseph Ward" in his Financial Statement.

While 1 realise that a necessity exists for revising the Customs tariff generally in regard to certain matters, the vsubject is one of such importance and difficulty that it cannot be dealt with at present. No doubt the question of encouraging new industries may become more pressing when the war is over. We must take steps to prevent New Zealand being made the dumping-ground of foreign countries goods to the serious injury of our industries, manufacturers, producers, and workmen. There is no doubt that the facilities offered to the.German .manufacturer and merchant in gaining »access*to British and Colonial markets have helped our enemy to build up her I'a.rge commercial and industrial establishments and to increase their export manufacture-.;, Mrrvoby amassing great wealth from British countries, which has helped to supply her with the sinews of war. One way of preventing Ger- : many again becoming a great commercial and industrial nation with the i assistance of British 'Countries is to ! prohibit Germ an-made goods being imported into New Zealand and other British countries. One of our supreme duties for the future will be to make our people, as far >as practicable, n self-reliant-and self-contained nation. , The. House'will be asked to place a duty of 50 per.cent. on all importations ffom: countries that are now or may be enemies of the British Empire, excepting such goods as may be exempted from time to time by Order-in-Council. COST OF LIVING. Tiie steadily increasing cost of living is causing a great deal of anxiety. It has become a matter not only of j national but of world-wide concern. In New Zealand a Royal Oommis- I sion, which was set up to inquire into the question and make recommendations for the consideration of the Government, furnished a valuable report. While it is exceedingly difficult to deal effectively with the eaxises which tend to increase the cost of living, it is the intention of the Government to take measures to remove any abuses that may exist, and to preventany person taking advantage of the conditions associated with the war ts> trade upon the necessities of the people. The object will be to ensure that the cost1 of the food, clothing, and shelter of the people is in no way unduly or artificially increased. Our desire should bo that no part of the field of business opportunity may bo restricted by monopoly or combination, and that the right of every man to acquire commodities, and particularly the necessaries of life, in an open market, uninfluenced by the manipulation of trust or combination, may bo preserved, and the people not exploited. Tn this connection, with a view of increasing the powers- of municipal corporations and avoiding the expense incidental to special legislation-at the instance of those bodies, it is proposed tf) aniond tho Municipal Corporations Act, giving powers'somewhat similar to those givon to the Cities of Wellington and Christchurch in the year 1914, under local Acts, relating to the inspection, sale, and control of the local milk-supply; the ostnblishmont and maintenance -of milk-stations; the establishment, equipment, jmd maintenance of markets, refrigerating chambers, and chanibfM-s for tho cool storage oLmeat and other articles intended for human food ; and also to establish, equip, and maintain local municipal bread supply services.