TARIFF RATES

Southland Times, Issue 22217, 9 January 1934, Page 6

TARIFF RATES

COMMISSION’S INQUIRY

REPORT NOT YET COMPLETE

LENGTHY INVESTIGATIONS (Per United Press Association.) Auckland, January 8. A statement concerning the report of the Tariff Commission was made by the Minister of Customs at Bayly’s Camp, near Dargaville, last night. “Questions have been raised recently as to: (1) The date on which the Customs Tariff Commission will send in its report to the Government, and “(2) Whether the New Zealand Government is carrying out its obligations under the Ottawa agreement,” said the Minister. . “I have been in consultation with the Chairman of the Commission, who informs me that owing to the large amount of evidence submitted to the Commission and which has to be considered, it is most unlikely the report can be ready on the date fixed, namely, January 31. He states that on this occasion the investigation is made more complicated by the fact that many representatives of manufacturers in the United Kingdom have stated cases before the Commission, and on account of the fact that these manufacturers are not on the spot, the further inquiries which are in many cases necessary cannot be completed expeditiously. It now seems probable the report will be completed by the end of February, but it is even yet too early to fix a date with any certainty. “With respect to the Ottawa agreement it should be noted that the Governments of New Zealand and the United Kingdom undertook to make certain alterations in their tariffs as soon as possible. These already have been made. In addition, the New Zealand Government undertook, in common with certain other dominions, _ to institute an inquiry into the existing protective duties and where necessary reduce them to such a level as will place the United Kingdom producer in the position of a domestic competitor. It will be obvious that such an inquiry must be of an exhaustive nature if justice is to be done to all the parties. “I understand that even yet certain evidence from manufacturers in the United Kingdom is on its way to New Zealand and has to be submitted to the Commission,” said the Minister. “In these circumstances it will be seen that the Government is carrying out its obligations under the agreement made with his Majesty’s Government in the United Kingdom. I_ understand that corresponding tariff investigations in other dominions have yet to be completed.”