DEPUTATION TO THE MINISTER.

Otago Witness, Issue 2785, 31 July 1907, Page 18

DEPUTATION TO THE MINISTER.

. - . WELLINGTON, July 23. i A deputation brought under the notice sf the Hon. J. A. Millar to-day the grievance local .bodies have in consequence £>t> the .revised tariff increasing the duty on )sast iron pipes and electrical appliances. ' M was- pointed out that the tariff would fresurfc in heavy loss to city councils and >ther local bodies who had various public -Vorksin hand. The Minister, in reply, said the policy of )he Government was to find work for ite £@SfiJe before finding it fojr anyone

else. Encouragement should be given to an industry which had already been started in the colony. The total remissions of taxation amounted to £370,000 under the Government's proposals, and the increase to £132,000. It was absolutely impossible for the Government to sacrifice any more revenue. There was no justification for steam machinery paying 20 per cent, duty and electrical machinery being allowed to come in at 10 per cent. He had fruitlessly endeavoured to get the electrical engineers to differentiate between e'cctrical appliances arid electrical machinery. Piobably something could be done to gi"e relief so far as copper or Insula.intr -wire was concerned, and if the electrical engineers would assist him in the yay re required he would be sJble to give the matter better consideration.