DUTY ON MACHINERY.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 13482, 23 July 1907, Page 2

DUTY ON MACHINERY.

PROTECTION OF LOCAL INDUSTRY

(Per Press Auooiaiion.)

WELLINGTON, July 23.

A deputation brought under the notice of the Minister, of Qustoms to-day a grievance suffered by local bodies in consequence of the -revised tariff increasing the duties on cast iron pipes and electrical appliances.- .'lt: was. pointed out that the tariff would result in a heavy loss to the City Council and other local bodies which had various public works in hand.

The Minister, in reply, said the policy of the Goverriment was to find work for its- own people before finding it for anyone else. , Encouragement should be given to an industry which had already been, started in the colony. The total remissions of taxation amounted to i £370,000 under the Government proposals, and the increases to £132,000. It was absolutely impossible for the Government to sacrifice any more revenue. There * Was " ho ' justification for steam machinery paying twenty per cent, duty and electrical machinery being allowed to come in at 10 per cent. He had fruitlessly endeavoured to get electrical engineers to differentiate be^j tween electrical appliances and electrical j machinery. Probably something could be done to give relief so far as copper or insulating material was concerned. If electrcial engineers would assist him in the way he required, he would be able to give the matter better consideration.

Rig. u £ from the firs* dose RHEUMO gives relief from the awful agony of rheumatism, gout, sciatica, lumbago, etc. 2s 6d and 4s 6d. Obtainable from all chemists and stores. 13