THE TARIFF PROPOSALS.

Manawatu Times, Volume LXIV, Issue 167, 24 July 1907, Page 5

THE TARIFF PROPOSALS.

Per Press iseooiAtion. Wellington, July 23. A deputation brought under the notice of the Minister of Customs to-day a grievance local bodies are under in consequence of the revised tariff increasing the duties on castiron pipes and eleotrical appliances. It was pointed out that the tariff would result in heavy loss to the City Council and other local bodies which had various public works in hand. The Minister, in reply, said the policy of the Government was to find work for its own people before finding it for anyone else. Encouragement should be given to an industry which had already been started in the colony. The total remissions of taxation amounted to £870,000 under the Government proposals, and the increases to £132,000. fit was absolutely impossible for Government to sacricfie any more revenue. There was no justification for steam machinery paying 20 per cent duty and electrical machinery being allowed to come in at 10 per cent. He had fruitlessly endeavoured to get eleotrical engineers to differentiate between electrical appliances and electrcial machinery. Probably something could be done to give relief so far as copper or insulating wire was concerned. If electrical engineers would assist him in any way he required he would be able to give the matter better consideration.