CUSTOMS DUTY INQUIRY

Taranaki Daily News, 19 July 1933, Page 9

CUSTOMS DUTY INQUIRY

MANUFACTURERS RESUME ■ 4 MR. W. J. POLSON TAKEN TO TASK QUOTING MAJOR ELLIOT’S SPEECH MISREPRESENTATION ALLEGED. By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. Satisfied with the Prime Minister’s assurance as cabled from London that the speech by the British Minister of Agriculture, which has been quoted extensively, was misrepresented, the New Zealand Manufacturers’ Federation today announced its intention of continuing with its representations before the Tariff Commission. In a statement explaining its temporary withdrawal from the commission, the federation comments on Mr. W. J. Polson’s remarks. “We regarded, it as a very serious matter,” states the ’federation, “that a responsible politician should resort to such methods and attempt to influence the Government and the Tariff Commission. We recognised, moreover, that immediate -action was, necessary to refute Mr. Poison’s’ states ment. This has now been achieved, and the federation will continue its work of substantiating its claim that the existing tariff in Ne,w Zealand is moderate, reasonable and already below the limit imposed by the Ottawa agreement.” Mr W. J. Polson informed the Farmers’ Union Conference on Thursday that “A definite statement has been made by a British Minister that if New Zealand does not reduce tariffs the Dominion will be subject, first, to a preferential duty and, second, to restriction of imports into Great Britain.” This statement was apparently, cabled to London, and Mr. Forbes in a reply cabled to the New Zealand Press the following day stated: “I cannot-under-stand how those supplying information in Wellington have so extensively misinterpreted the speech of the Minister of Agriculture. On the contrary, Britain has expressed every approval of Ney Zealand’s preferential treatment of British goods.” The Hon. Major Elliot also cabled on Friday repudiating the words which Mr. Polson had attributed to him. ' t