TARIFF PROSPECTS POOR.

Colonist, Volume LV, Issue 13756, 23 June 1913, Page 4

TARIFF PROSPECTS POOR.

In outlining tho prospective legislative programme i commence paradoxically by suggesting wluit will not bo passed, Reform of tho tariff has been, promised, and tho Minister of Customs has been busy getting ready for it. Hits reciprocity treaty with Australia isscarcely likely to come forward now th© Fisher Ministry, which arranged ife with Now Zealand's representative, has been defeated. Our Customs law is in a complicated fctato, urgently in. need of consolidation and simplification, and the Minister has a Bill ready which will improve the position.' This may ; get a chance, but 1 feel confident that the Government wiil not jeopardise its general legislative programme by tho introduction of tariff questions, for one© tke tarilf is touched nothing else can bo lookc-d at in Parliament for fiis or eight weeks at least. Mr. M'assey, however anxious to carry out an election pledge, will scarcely risk the experiments.