LOWER CUSTOMS TARIFF

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21326, 29 October 1932, Page 11

LOWER CUSTOMS TARIFF

REMOVAL OF EMBARGOES COMMERCIAL MEN'S VIEW 0 RESOLUTION ON PRINCIPLES [by telegraph—press association] DUNEDIN, Friday At the Chamber of Commerce conference to-day 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, and 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 someone climbing over the tariff wall it was built up further. Mr. A. H. Allen said that if a duty of 200 or 300 per cent were imposed they would not be able to keep out Japanese footwear. Some methods other than customs would have to be adopted to deal with that country. Mr. Stronach Paterson said the remit was enunciating general principles. He could say from long experience of the Customs Department that no department carried out its dirties 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 operato against international trade. Mr. T. C. Ross asked whether the remit meant that the tariff should ultimately be abolished 1 Voices: Yes. Mr. Ross said that for .1951 customs revenue had supplied £7,000,000. If the £7,000,000 had to bo found by income tax it would prove very awkward for them all. The country still required 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 was adopted, with an alteration to the effect that the Government be urged "as a general principle" to carry out the proposals in the remit. The word " discriminating" was inserted before the words ' downward revision." and the word " vexatious" before the words "powers granted."