THE BOOT TRADE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18625, 5 August 1922, Page 8

THE BOOT TRADE

SATISFIED WITH THE TARIFF., (FbOM OUB Own CORRESPONDENT.) WELLINGTON, August 4. During the committee stage of the Tariff ■ Bill to-night Mr D. G, said-that the ! > boot trade in New Zealand had suffered 1 from the enormous importations of Australian boots. This had led to unemployment in New Zealand, and there was still unemployment as: the result of'that competition. He did not suggest that New Zealand would not do fairly well under the arrangement between the Minister and Australia, but he suggested that in the interests of the New Zealand manufacturers there should be no undue haste in bringing the arrangement into force. Ho had heard no complaints, ao he presumed, generally, there was satisfaction with the proposals. The Hon. W. Downie Stewart stated that there was a duty of 35 per cent, against Australia, and this really represented an effective duty of 38i per cent., as thoro was the primage end the ordinary method of assessing invoices. The bootmakers hod told him that they wore well pleased, but they did not want to express their joy .too loudly, otherwise the farmers might think the Government ■ was treating the secondary industries too well.