BRITISH TARIFF.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21113, 22 February 1932, Page 9

BRITISH TARIFF.

ADVISORY COMMITTEE. APPROVAL BY COMMONS. LONDON. Feb. 19. During the debate in the House of Commons on the Import. Duties Billj the clause establishing an Advisory Committee, which will be empowered to recommend the imposition of duties additional to the general 10 per cent, ad' valorem duty was passed. Mr. Neville Chamberlain, Chancellor of the Exchequer, said that although ths word " judicial" did not appear in the clause, this body was going to be independent of the executive and not subject to it. The fact that its members would be appointed for three years would give them the necessary independence. It was essential to secure the services of persons with the right personal qualities. Although a civil servant might properly be a member, it would not be desirable. 110 should not be chairman because that might give rise to the idea in the minds of the public that it was a Government Department, subject to the influence of instructions from the Minister. It would be inappropriate to appoint as chairman a member who had been long associated in an active capacity with tho conduct of manufacturing or industrial businesses, or who had been a representative of a trades union, for the committee must preserve an attitude of impartiality. Nor did they want as chairman a distinguished economist. They wanted a man who had a. practicaLworking knowledge of business, although not himself connected with manufacturing or distributive trades, and one who would command public confidence.