MR. COATES EXPLAINS PREFERENTIAL TARIFF

Manawatu Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 2308, 28 November 1925, Page 9

MR. COATES EXPLAINS PREFERENTIAL TARIFF

Goods That are Half British Will Qualify

MAKING SURE THAT ENGLAND GETS BENEFIT

[Per Press Association.] AUCKLAND Last Night.

In referring to the new preferential tariff the Prime Minister, Mr Coates, said, before leaving for Wellington, to-night: “Briefly, the intention of. the Government in raising the preference ratio from 25 to 60 per cent is to encourage the Importation of British manufactures. We want to make sure that Britain gets the benefit of the preferential tariff and that goods which, share in the concession are largely British made of British materials. “The ratio of British materials and workmanship qualifying . goods for preferential treatment has been 25 per cent. Admittedly that was too low and it was proposed to require a 75 per cent ratio. It was heard, however, that so high a ratio would penalise more than it would help British trade, so we arrived at the mean, 50 per cent and I am sure everyone, will agree with me in hoping the new regulation will have the desired effect. We do not want goods the greater part of whose value has been added to in foreign countries coming into New Zealand under preferential duties, designed to assist British trade.”