TARIFF ALTERATIONS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13959, 19 July 1907, Page 3

TARIFF ALTERATIONS.

ADDITIONAL OPINIONS,

IMMEDIATE RISE IN POTATOES FORESHADOWED.

Mr A. Moritzson. of tho firm of Messrs A. Moritzson and Co., was interviewed by a Times reporter yesterday' in regard to the tariff alterations as they affect potatoes and fruit. _ " Some .12 or 18 months ago," Mr Moritzson said, "tho Dunedin Chamber of Commerce sent out circulars to the various merchants asking for suggestions in regard to various products iu connection with a likely alteration of tariff, "1 his step was no doubt influenced by' the Government, -and it was suggested, seeing that at that time, as well as in the previous year, potatoes wcro ruling from £10. to £15 por ton, that ifc would bo advi6abl© to bring tho duty on potatoes into lino with tbafc op. onions, on which a duty of £1 per ton was paid, the duty on potatoes ,beiny a, 20 per cent. one. No doubt 911 this suggestion the Government etirried into effect the now tariff in, regard to potatoes. But this would no doubt havo been a relief to the consumer* provided potatoes continued to rule high in pneo. But owing to the large crops in Australia, and tho good supplies in Now Zealand, potatoes have fa-lien iu price considerably. and liavo been obtainable of lart© LM° m £3 up to £4 per ton in Now Zealand, while potatoes in North-Western Tasmania havo been quoted at £1 17s 6d. f.0.b., sacks in, and could bo landed in New Zealand at about £3.15s por ton and sold, plus commission, at £4 per ton. Victorian potatoes were almost on a similar basis. The effect; of iho new duty of £1 per ton, it will be seen at; a glance, puts ihk article, up to tho extent of about 12s por ton, and no doubt tho New Zealand grower or holder will take advantage of this, and a corresponding ri6e in values may bo expected within a. few dtvys or a week, thus making a necessary art-iolo of diot dearer than it should bo to the consumer. It is a well-known fact that local prices will be entirely guided by tho Australian landing values. The duty now exacted is over 50 L 1 ® 1 , oenl-' on the original cost—namely, 37s od por ton,—and seeing that tho freight from Tasmania is £1 2s. 6d, the loss bv weight in transit ss, harbour dues and cartages 2s 6d, and commission 6s, I think tho New Zealand grower would _ bo sufficiently protected without imposing this exorbitant duty. If the fanners of New Zealand have a fair average orop without blight, £4 per ton would pay them handsomelv." Mr Moritzson added that ho thought it would bo a just, solution of tho matter if the duty on potatoes wero'left as heretofore—namely, 20 per cent, up to the invoice price of £5; when that figure has been reached the duty to remain at -£1 per ton. This would protect- tho grower whon priccs woro low, and would protect the consumer when prioes wcro high. Asked for an expression of opinion in regard to the tariff alterations as affecting fruit, Mr Moritzson said ho was still sure that tile introduction of Australian grapes would in no way interfere with the artielo grown under glass in New Zealand. The latter, being of superior quality and earlier m the market than tho Australian-grown grape could. bo landed, would always bo purchased by tho wealthier class.. , 'These grapes had never been within reach of tho general public or working man, and there would not bo sufficient to go round oven if they were moro plentiful and cheaper. Grapes grown in the open in the North Island had always been sold at anything from 4d up to 6d or 7d per lb, whi'le with the Id per ! lb duty the Australian grapes could not be sold at less than 6d or 7d. "Tho next item that calls for comment," said Mr Moritzson, '■ is in regard to apples. This delicious fruit should bo within easy reach of everybody. I think no harm would havo been done if tho duty had been made id per lb all tho year round, llio New Zealand grower is protected with a halfpenny duty, which, with freight, landing charges, and commission added, is to tho extent of 3s 6d per case.' The Tasmanian grower is quite satisfied if lie can realise 3e 6d per case clear at the sales, which take place every day at Hobart. Seeing, then, that tho New Zealand grower can nearly always get for good fruit 2d per lb, tho growing of apples should pay him handsomely. No doubt wo will'hoar in reply to this of n certain number of growers who send apples to the market and can never got over id to Id per lb. Of course it goes without saving that such applies can only be windfalls or fit for jelly. Any good dessert and cooker is always worth IJd to 2d per lb when a glut is on." Yesterday. Mr Moritzson assured our reporter, lie sold Canterburygrown apples of superior quality at from 6s to 9s per cn&c, varying ill weight from 261b up to 381b, while he also sold Tasmanian apples yesterday at 6s for 44!b, the latter a good, wholesome sample. The public expected a reasonablo reduction in tho duty on apples, as it has been held for a long time, and from all sides, that fruit in this country is too dear, but the reduction that has been reasonably looked for lias not been forthcoming.

THE ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING INDUSTRY. A meeting of the local firms that are engaged in the electrical engineering business wa6 hold yesterday at the offices of Messrs Steuart and Fenn to consider the proposal of tho Government in the tariff to impose a duty of 20' per cent, ad valorem on electric machinery and appliances, instead ot 10 per cent, as under the old tariff. As a result of discussion it was resolved to forward a telegram in the following terms to the Speaker and each of the members of the House of Representatives"Proposed increase in duties upon electrical machinery and appliances will have most injurious effect on our business. There are no electrical manufacturing interests in New Zealand to support. New duties will increase prices upon imports to such an extent as to retard business, and revenue itself will suffer eventually. Trust you will nee your way to support a reduction".—(Signed) Turnbull and .Tones (Ltd.), Noyets Bros., Steuart and Fenn (Ltd.), National Electrical Engineering Company.. A. and T. Burt (Ltd.), Craddocl;. Sim, and Co." It was also agreed to ask Mr E. C. .loncs, who is at present in Wellington, lo represent the views of the firms connected with the industry to members of Parliament.

WOLFE'S SCHNAPPS has stimulating clfect on the whole system.

THE TIMBER TRADE. The reduction of the duty on timber from 2s to Is per lOOtt lias been llic means of filling the minds of timber merchants throughout the. country with grave concern. Mr H. F. Moss, ot this city, informs us that tho inevitable and immediate result will be ,m Inrush of timber from Tasmania and America. By reason of the density of wooded districts in those countries timber can be felled, sawn, and forwarded at a very much cheaper cost than in New Zealand, where the plains an<l accessabln places liavo been practically denuded ot their trees. The timber now availablo is far away from railways, and. in many cases, roads, and this renders it all the more expensive to brincf into the cities, and, added to the cost of insurance and cxcessivo labour rates, makes the lot of the sawmillcr the tovcvsc of happy. Timber merchants aro aghast afc the policy of the Government in allowing kauri to be exported to such an extent as to starve the colony where it grows. At a recent- deputation of timber merchants in Auckland to the general manager of railways a complaint was mado about the inadequacy of rolling stock, and one of the deputation stated that, owing to the consequent delays, his kauri was 12 months behind.'' Mr Moss is confident that if foreign timber is allowed to como into this country it will lie highly detrimental to the trade. Timber merchants, he says, are astonished at the action of. the Government and can find no reason for. its action, lie would .not lie surprised to see a a great revulsion of .feeling take place throughout the country. For some time past the timber industry had been by no means prosperous, and the trade had been languishing.. Last year it had fallen off by about, two million feet, and is was as much as the sawmillers could do to hold their own. No imported wood could compare ivith kauri, and it was impossible to mako serviceable furnituro from imported deal. Agitations against tlio reduction of the timber duty would probably be started everywhere, and a protest on a comprehensive scale had already been initiated in Dunodin, when united action would bo taken..

BOOT IMPORTERS DISSATISFIED.

A PETITION AGAINST A CHANGE.

The is to bo forwarded to the Commissioner of Customs. It bears tho signature of 16 Dunedin importers of boots and Blioes:—

To the Honourable tha Minister of Customs, Wellington, Sir,—We, the signatories attached to this petition, honestly opine that we are expressing the opinions and desires of the rest of the boot and Bhoe importers of New Zealand, who number over 1000, holding their own businesses and employing tome thousands of hands. Did time permit, it is beyond question that' each and eveiy ono of these importers, together with the thousands of employees affiliated' in the trade, vfould subscribe their names to this petition.

As importers, wo wish to enter & strong protest to any interference with the existing tariff on boots and shoes 'unless it be in the direction of a reduction of the present duty. Although importers, we are. thoroughly in sympathy with tho policy which grants a fair measure of protection' and assistance to all bona fide locals industries, and, whilst conceding this, it must he remembered that the object of a tariff is. first, revenue, and, secondly, protective. Any competent and fair-minded person must agree that the present tariff "fills these two conditions a3 happily as any measuro possibly could, m view of the difficult and divergent interests of the trade; and the best proof of this is to be found in the experience of many years past. The present tariff, viewed from the standpoint of Protection, .is all that any reasonable manufacturer could demand, being nominally 22J per cent, ad valorem, .which means 24.75 per cent., or, say, 25 per cent, straight out; but practically the measure of Protection which the shoo manufacturer enjoys is anything "between 35 to 45 per cent., depending upon the value of the goods imported, because the importer has to pay freight, insurance, .exchange, casing, ana other incidental charges on. top of the 25 per ceut., which means quite another 10 per cent, on medium to better-priced goods, I and this extra ohargo increases in proportion as the price of the goods . imported decreases. 1 The shoe manufacturer has a further measure of Protection in the fact that » large proportion of the raw material m the rnajiii-' facturp of boots and. shoes is admitted duty free—to wit, patent leather, grindery, mercery, etc., —whilst a very material portion oi the upper leather which he uses is subjoct only to a nominal duty—to wit, glace kid, etc. Again in sole leather, sheep and calf leather, tho manufacturer has the advantage of being able to get just what his business needs first hand, as tho whole of the trade is centred in the colony. Tho present tariff, as a revenue producer, haa also proved itselt pre-eminentJy satisfactory, and is admitted by all fair-minded and just men in .the trade to be the most happy medium lor all parties concerned, whilst providing its-lair quota oi revenue to the country. For these and many other equally, strong reasons the importers . of footwear in New Zealand earnestly solicit also a modest weaaure of Protection for their vested interests and their rights as citizens of New Zealand. We view with great concern the action of a small body of operatives in the trad 6, and also many members of the much stronger organisation of. shoe-manufacturers, who are

always worrying and seeking lo add to the duty, and who aim only at prohibition. It is to be earnestly hoped that wiser counsel will prevail, and that these malcontents will not be allowed things all their own way, which would bo seriously detrimental lo every man, woman, and child iu New Zealand, besides throwing overboard a substantial amount of the country's revenue. The manufacturers have no just' cause of complaint against file present tariff. The up-to-date shoe manufacturer in New Zealand was never so prosperous as to-duy, and would be infinitely worse off under a prohibitive tariff.

[ Tho operative in tho shoe trade waa never so well off as ho is to-day. There is plenty of work and 1 steady employment, for all competent labour, together with a minimum wage of £2 5s per week, whilst any manufacturer will readily admit that it is the men earning £2 15s and upwards per week whom he I appreciates most and is anxious to -retain. The statement which appeared in publio print quite recently (Auckland Star, 29/6/07), vhieli emanated from a section of tho Christchurch boot factory employees, stating that ■t-h-i average earnings -per ivmmi of the men was only £90,, is not only misleading, but far Iroiu the actual state of tilings. U'o aro credibly' informed that there is a movement afoot to establish a trust amongst a few of tho largest s,hoa manufacturers in New Zealand, together with one of the largest tanners and leather manufacturers, for the purpose of controlling the market ami fixing prices. Any increase in. tho tariff will certainly tend, to strengthen such a combination. We understand, -that a deputation waited! upon tlio department to urge the advisability of importing machinists,• as -tho supply was totally inadequate to the requirements of tho trade, and factories frequently ■ at a standstill owing to lack of labour offering in this department. _ As a matter of fact the boot and shoe factories iu New Zealand have the entire con■trol of all strong work sold in : the colony, and for somo considerable lime past havo been unable to copo with -the orders received for lines similar to those imported. Tho boot and shoo importers and their dependents, although representing a large section of tho industrial community of New Zealand, are not an organised body; but if they wero this would be. the petition for fair play whioh the oxeoutive of such an organisation would solicit-, and whioh we, tho signatories, would now ask for your consideration and assistance.

WELLINGTON' OPINIONS,

(Fjiost Our Own Correspondent,)

WELLINGTON,. July 18. A number of business men in Wellington wero surprised this morning when called upon to pay increased Customs duties referred to in tho Financial Statement, seeing that tho proposals havo not jet been adopted by Parliament. Tho Customs Department explains that in requiring l payment of t.ho additional duties it is only following the usual practice. If Parliament modifies any of tho proposals, any over payment of duties will be adjusted in accordance with the usual custom. THE CONFECTIONERY TRADE.

Much irritation is being felt in the wholesale and retail confectionery trade owing to the new tariff. Mr John Rigg, of Messrs John Rigg and Co., wholesale importers, informed a Post representative that the new tariff was going to adversely affcct tho importation of the better lines of confectionery—such lines as wero not manufactured in tho colony. Another penny per lb had been placed upon confectionery, and this was equivalent to 100 per cent, on tho cheaper lines. "Of course," said Ma- Rigg, "the pubilo won't get the benefit of the increased duties. The benefits will all go to the local makers, who already had sufficient protection. With the added tariff and tJie reduction of sugar by sd per lb, tho local makers of confectionery will bo working little gold mines." AMMUNITION TRADE. . ■ Tho prevous dut.y on ammunition was Is 6d per 100 on cartridges, and this has been raised to 2s 6d, while tho duty on empty cases has bce.n increased from 9d to Is 6d. This has caused great indignation amongst dealers and farmers.' "I don't think they quito realise what they avo doing," said an influential gentleman to a Post reporter this afternoon. "On the cheaper cartridges it means that tho duty is over 60 per cent., and on the empty casos 75 per oent. This is scandalous." Ho added that there was great indignation amongst the farming community. "The Government makes ua keep tho Rabbits down, and now they avo going to charge us this outrageous duty for the cartridges wo use." He declared that it had all been dono in tho interests of a particular company whose money all wont cut of tho oolony. FRUITERERS SATISFIED.

When the new tariff was published yesterday it threw the local fruit market into indignant consternation. "Tho trade ia killed—absolutely ruined," was heard from ono. "Fruits, dried and fresh, from £d to 3d. This was tho clause that fell on the market like a bolt from the blue. In the first hasty perusal this not unnaturally, was taken to mean that tho duty all round had been increased from |d to 3d, hence the lamentations, but fuller and calmer consideration showed how deceptive little words can bo, Tho awful lino was found to mean merely that tho different duties varied from to 3d, and all was well again. To-day the market is suave and satisfied. " It is really a very good tariff, and we havo nothing to grumble about. Of course there aro some anomalies, but you can't expect to get anything perfect." This was from a representative of one of tho

leading firms in conversation with a Post reporter, and epitomised i tie views of tho trade generally.

NO DUTY ON KEROSENE.

Tn the House this afternoon, Mr Okey, the member for Taranaki, gave notice of a question as to whether, in view of the recent rise in the price- of kerosene because of the now duty imposed, tlio Government would give a bonus to locally-produccd kerosene.

Tho Prime Minister seized tlio opportunity offered lo declare that there waa no duty imposed by the new tariff on kerosene. 110 said he wished to remove t-ho impression that had gained currenoy. Mr Aitken let- tho House understand that tho impression that thoro was a duty had como from tho Customs Department. A local Customs officer had told importers that, under the new .tariff he would demand tho payment of a duty on keiwne. It. appeared that the word koros«ne did not appear in the whole of the. tariff, and (ho officer had read the duty under heading of "oil." Tho Prime Minister asked for the name of tho Customs officer.

Mr Ail-kon said ho would give i(; to the Minister privately. Tho Hon.- J. A. Millar eaid that if any Customs officer put a. duty on kerosene ho did not know what ho'was doing. There was nothing in the tariff that, could lead him to sucli a conclusion. It ftas only certain oils or a certain specific gravity (and which did not includo kerosene) that were taxable.