NEW TARIFF

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21910, 20 September 1934, Page 13

NEW TARIFF

ADVERSE COMMENT NO PROPOSALS ALTERED LABOUR AMENDMENTS FAIL EFFECT ON LOCAL INDUSTRY [BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION] «= WELLINGTON, Wednesday Consideration of the schedules to the Customs Acts Amendment Bill was resumed in the House of Representatives to-day. The Leader of the Opposition, Mr. M. J. Savage, called for a division on the reduction of the duty on chicory, contending that that was an industry in which employment could be given to New Zealand people. On a point of order being raised, it was found that if the division was adverse to the proposed duties, no duty at all would be levied, and the division was not taken, the item being retained. Mrs. E. R. McCombs (Labour —Lyttelton) moved to have the duty removed from cocoa, it being an article of common use

The Minister of Customs, Mr. Coates, said the Government could not accept the amendment. It would be unfair to do so, as a considerable number of people were employed in New Zealand manufacturing cocoa. Extent of Manufacture Mr. Savage asked how many people were so employed. Mr. Coates said 205,0001b. of cocoa was manufactured by one firm in New Zealand in the first seven months of the present year, and in the same period 287,0001b. of cocoa was imported. Mrs. McCombs said she thought only a small amount of cocoa was manufactured in New Zealand, and in the light of the information given would withdraw the amendment. Mr. W. Nash (Labour; —Hutt) moved an amendment in the direction of leaving the duties on chocolate as they were previously. The amendment was lost by 39 votes to 25. Exception was taken to the reduction of the duty on roasted coffee, but the item was retained without a division.

Referring to the reduction in the duty on coffee essence, Mr. Savage protested, on behalf of the Opposition, to attacks being made 6n New Zealand industry. The action his party could take was limited. It could only call for divisions and make a nuisance of itself, but it did not desire to do that.

Mr. H. S. S. Kyle (Government — Riccarton) contended that there should be a total embargo on bacon and hams from overseas. New Zealand was endeavouring to build up the pork industry. yet the doors were left open. The Hon. J. G. Cobbe, who was temporarily in charge of the bill, said the importation of bacon and hams was totally prohibited. Prohibiting Blackberries

Adverse comment on the removal of the duty from fruit trees, flowering trees and plants was voiced by several members, who said the removal of the duty would have a harmful effect on nurserymen, who had for years been building up the trade. Mr. A. M. Samuel (Independent— Thames) suggested that the Minister should place a duty of 500 per cent on blackberry plants. Mr. Coates said blackberry was already in the country and no purpose would be served by putting on such a duty. He had power by Order-in-Council to prohibit importation. Mr. Samuel: Will you do it? Mr. Coates: You mustn't ask me to make a promise like that. The Minister added that he was sympathetic and thought his colleagues in the Cabinet would be agreeable to issuing such an order. There were some species of blackberry that did not spread at all. The Department of Agriculture kept a strict guard against the other variety. Mr. W. J. Jordan (Labour —Manukau) moved that the duty on British honey be rotained at 2d per_ lb., instead of Id. He stated that New Zealand was a large honey-consuming country and had a surplus of production, but the London market was being threatened by the assistance given by the Canadian Government to Canadian honey. There also was the danger of disease entering the Dominion in honey. No Honey Importations

Mr. Coates said there had been no importation of honey for seven years. Even with the reduced duty, little honey could be imported, the only danger coming from Canada, but that would be kept in mind when the new treaty was being discussed. The National Beekeepers' Association had approved of the reduction to Id per lb. Mr. Jordan's amendment was lost by 32 votes to 24. • Mr. D. G. Sullivan (Labour —Avon) moved an amendment that the duties on pickles should remain at 3s a gallon British and 6s a gallon foreign, as formerly. Mr. Sullivan said the proposed tariff halved the protection for local industrv. Everything associated with the industry was locally made and a great many girls were employed. Mr. Coates said local manufacturers had little to fear, as recent importations were negligible. The amendment was lost. The House adjourned after an amendment to the item dealing with the duty on imported beer had been defeated.

TRANSPORT REGULATION ESBENTIALS OF SYSTEM VARIOUS METHODS OVERSEAS [by telegraph —special reporter] WELLINGTON, Wednesday "That proper regulation of the whole field of transport is of public benefit is indisputable, but there is not the same certainty as to the method and means of regulation,' y states the annual report of the Transport Department, tabled in the House of Representatives. "A regulatory system to be successful must be simple, effective and inexpensive," the report continues. "There must be 110 suggestion of unnecessary red tape. A brief study of transport in other parts of the world to-day immediately directed attention to the fact that unregulated competition had been universally discarded as the basis of national transport policy. Regulation of competition was being secured in several countries through control of transport charges and by other means, such as a system of licensing, control of expenditure on roads, railways and harbours. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL [BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION] WELLINGTON, Wednesday The Workers' Compensation Amendment Bill was introduced in the Legislative Council to-day by the Hon. M. Pagan (Wellington), and read a first tll The Council recorded its sense of the faithful services rendered to New Zealand by the late Mr. R. A. Loughnan The Council adjourifed until next Wednesday.