TARIFF BOARD PROPOSAL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20324, 3 August 1929, Page 14

TARIFF BOARD PROPOSAL.

STATEMENT BY MINISTER.

ESTABLISHMENT NOT INTENDED

[BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN' CORRESPONDENT.] HAMILTON. Friday.

Correspondence from the Prime Minis tor, Sir Joseph Ward, arid tho Minister of Customs, - Hon. W. .B. Tavcruer, referring to the proposed Tariff Advisory Board was read to-day at the monthly meeting of the Waikato sub-provincial executive of the New Zealand Farmers' Til ion. The letters referred to a resolution passed by the Cambridge branch and confirmed by the Auckland provincial executive. The resolution read as fol lows:—"That this branch strongly objects to the setting up of a tariff board, as it considers that all matters of tariff should be dealt with by Parliament." In reply, the Prime Minister wrote that be had noted the terms of the resolution and was arranging for the matter to receive attention. The Hon. W. I>. Taverner denied that there was any intention of establishing a tariff board. He added thdt he was in full accord with I he, views of members of the Farmers' Union, who considered that the tariff <|iiestion should be discussed on (he floor of Ibe House

j Mr. J. A. Young, M.P for Hamilton, j replied that lie would keep the matter in view should any legislation referring to the subject be introduced. .Support for the resolution was promised by Mr. L-". I,ve, M.P. for Waikato. The chairman, ! Mr. T. 11. Henderson, stated that he was i in favour of the board as long as it ! represented all sections of the community. [■ Mr. 11. IL Feisst, Cambridge, was of | the opinion that as long as the board did ' not represent political interests solely it. would be to the advantage of the* conn ' (rv. He considered that the Government. had already committed itself to give maim | fiicturers a tariff advisory board. Under the circumstances the best policy was to oppose the establishment of such a board. I Bcih the Cambridge branch and the pro- • vincial executive believed that it was fatal !to their interests'to support the board in 1 public at the present stage, j It was decided that the correspondence should be received, the executive having I already given -its support to the resolution | of the Cambridge branch.