DOMINION IMPORTS

Northern Advocate, 31 October 1932, Page 7

DOMINION IMPORTS

TARIFF REVISION URGED,

COMMERCE CONGRESS VIEWS.

(Per Press Association.—Copyright.) DUNEDIN, Saturday

At the Chamber of Commerce Conference, Mr A. M. Seaman (Auckland) presented a remit suggesting that the Government .should introduce a downward revision of tariff on both British and foreign goods, removal of duty surtax, removal of restrictions and embargoes on the import and export of certain commodities, curtailment of powers granted by Order-in-Council to Customs and other Departments which might result in uncertainty in trade and inevitably hinder commerce. .Mr Seaman said the present position was that all countries were now sellers not buyers. As soon as there was a danger of some one climbing over the tariff wall it was built up further. Mr A. H. Allen said that if a duty of 200 or 200 per cent were imposed they would not bo able to keep out Japanese footwear. Some methods other than Customs would have to be adopted to deal with that country-. Mr Stronach Paterson (Wellington) said the remit was enunciating general principles. He could say- from long experience of the Customs Department that no Department, carried out. its duties so carefully-, impartially- and justly- as the Customs Department. (Hear, hear). At the- same time it was another barrier to international trade to place powers in the hands of an individual which might at any time operate against international trade.

“Mr I'. 0. Ross asked what danse 1 meant. Did it mean that the tariff would ultimately be abolished?” Voices: “Yes.”

Mr Eoss said that for 193.1 Customs revenue had supplied £7,000,000. If the £7,000,000 had to be found by income it would prove very awkward for them all. The country still rofpiirod reasonable .protection. A large amount of capital was invested in secondary industries. If they were wiped out then employees would have to find work elsewhere.

The remit w r as adopted, with the alteration that, it was decided to urge on the Government “as a general principle” to carry out the clauses in the rpmit. The word “discriminating” was inserted before the words “downward revision,” and the word “vexations” before the words “powers granted.”