A LANGUISHING TRADE.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 5669, 17 August 1905, Page 7

A LANGUISHING TRADE.

COACimrXLDKKS APPEAL TO THE PREMIER. PROTECTION WANTED. Yesterday evening a deputation ot representative coach hu. him s from Auckland, Vi elluii'ton, Christchurch, and Dunedin wmied upon the Premier wild a roquet that, increased dunes be imposed upon imported vehicles in order Unit the coachbu,lding ndustry in New Zealand nngla be saved from extinction. .Ur Mill lav, M.H.R. for Dunedin, in introducing the deputation, said it was not anticipated that anything would be don) this session to amend the tariu, but it was hoped that at an early date some relief would bo gwen from the disadvantages coacbbuilders were suffering under. At the present time the industry was simply in a state oi decay. . .Members of the deputation then explained the reason of their coming. They said that an increase in the t atin duty on imported vehicles was ot vita, importance not only to employers but to employees and the rising generation of the colony. At the present time employers were paying higher for raw material for (heir business purposes than formerly, and they were paying higher wages. They did not object to paying higher wages to their employees, but they could not continue doutg so unless opportunity was given to nrevent the importation of vehicles going on at the present time. The importation was increasing yearly, and the result would be that 5 New 'Zealand factories would simply become repair shops. What they bad decided to ask for was that the Government should do away with 1 the ad valorem tariff and substitute tariff value for each class ot vehicle. The colony would suffer no loss thereby to its revenue —there would be an increase of industries and employment and an increase in the Customs duties. To show the increase of importation, they road to Mr Seddon the following statistics:—ln 1900 there were importcd 237 veil ides of a value of about £3000; in 1001 300 vehicles were imported valued at £7000; in 1904 there were G 92 vehicles imported valued at £IO,OOO. In five years there had been a total importation of 3670 vehicles, valued at £46,388. It was pointed out that in Ot ♦go agents for American and Canadian vehicles emnloved their commeioial travellers to sell seeds, etc., and. incidentally, the vehicles. They con d thus afford to sell at a profit of £l. Manufacturers in the colony had tnd to gradually slacken down and reduce their hands. At Wellington the d'sabilities were felt so strongly that omnloyors would not take on apprentices because the lads could not, be laugh the business pronerly. Air Seddon. in reply, said that it was the desire of the Government to see local industries flourish throughout the colour. The Government had a duty to educate the children to take their places in the industries of the colony, and to see that the industries wore given a fair opportunity. Tie had always boon a fair trader, and he wanted to soo young Now Zealanders i get a chance to learn trades. When- ! over he had visited agricultural shows I ho ha/d been struck by the fact that vehicles turned out by local manufacturers compared very favourably, as far as finish and stylo was concerned, with ■the article imported from America or the Old Country. As for stability, the looally-mado article was superior ihe trouble was that the work turned out in tho colony was too good, and the result was that the lower price tempted tho buyer to purchase tho imported article. 'Agents of foreign vehicles I could afford to sell at a very low corai mission because they engaged in other business. Uoth in America and Canada there was a surplus stock, and probably vehicles made in those countries could bo purchased as cheaply here as where they came from. There was no possibility of the tariff being altered this session, and, in any case, it was not advisable for a Colonial Treasurer to indicate any alteration in the tariff. Such a course meant the disturbing of trade, and would affect the revenue. Ho could not indicate anything. All he could tell them was that they had the Government’s best wishes, and ho had already said what the Govern 1 ment’s mind was in regard to local industries. There would bo* difficulties I in acceding to tho deputation’s ro- ; quests. Fanners would say that vo- * hides necessary for their husbandry j wore being made more expensive, but he thought it was possible to do something when it* was remembered that £46,000 had gone out of tho colony. A lot of that money could have been kept in the colony.