TARIFF COMMISSION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19503, 6 December 1926, Page 14

TARIFF COMMISSION.

QUESTION OF PUBLICITY, BUSINESS MEN AND MINISTER. jvidek representation asked. [After correspondence with tho Minister of Customs, the Hon. W. Downie Stewart, tho Auckland Chamber of Commerce has modified its proposal that all applications by industries for higher protective tariffs shall bo dealt with publicly. Tho chamber now suggests that as full publicity is impossible, the personnel of the Tariff Commission be added to and made more representative, especially of farmers and the consuming public. Tho chamber on October 19 passed the followiisg motion That any industry callia® for an increased tariff be required to publicly state its case, and ample time bo allowed for all interested to peruso such statement and submit evidence when deemed necessary." The resolution was sent to tho Minister, with s, letter expressing the opinion that trade organisations and other bodies interested should be given full opportunity to express their views upon applications for higher tariff. The Minister replied as follows:—"I am afiaid it would not bo satisfactory if effect 'fvero given to this resolution. It will bo evident to you and your chamber that if the inquiry were open to the public much of the information which would be most useful in coming to a conclusion upon tho points which will bo jaised would not bo obtained. If, for ©xample, a request wore mado that duty should bo imposed upon somo article to sncoun.go its manufacture in New Zealand, and somo member of your chamber, who Wiis an importer of tho lino of goods in question, desired to opposo such a duty, would he bo prepared to disclose for th.3 information of the public and his competitors the invoice value, landed cost, and other particulars of the goods he imported? Yet this is the kind of evidence that might bo of great value in determining whether or not tho industry was on* which required consideration. . "Similarly a manufacturer would naturally object to information respecting tho purchase price of his raw materials, his wages bill, turnover, profit, etc., being given in public. Such a course might supply his competitors with most valuable commercial industrial information which had taken the manufacturer many years to acquire. "In the light of the above, I feel sure that you and your council will recognise that it jis not in the best interests of the community that tho proceedings of the body to be set up to inquire into questions affecting the customs tariff should be open to the public. " I trust that the members of your chamber and other chambers of commerce throughout New Zealand will recognise tho importance to this Dominion of the dullest possible information being obtained and that therefore they will assist ths Government by giving evidence wherever possible. " I should perhaps add that it is proposed that some means should be taken to supply particulars for the information of the public as to the articles upon which applicants desire that there should be an alteration in duty, but tho steps which will bo taken to achieve this object have not yet been determined. If such action is taken it would, of course, be recognised that the Government could not •undertake to limit its tariff policy to the articles concerning which such particulars had been published." The chamber, in reply, has admitted that full publicity cannot well be given to tho commission's proceedings, but states there is a need for safeguarding the primary producer and the consumer in any revision of the tariff. It concludes Some dissatisfaction has been expressed that the personnel of tho commission announced in the press this morning is not more fully representative of consumer!! generally, also of the farming community. The chamber would respectfully recommend to your favourable consideration the setting up on a broad basis (somewhat on tho Australian model) of an impartial board, fully representative of all opposing interests, to deal, from a wide standpoint, with each application for an amendment to the tariff."