TARIFF PROBLEMS.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 16455, 6 June 1919, Page 5

TARIFF PROBLEMS.

EVIDENCE OF AN EXPERT. WELLINGTON, June 5. Giving evidence before the Industries Committee, Air. W, li. Montgomery (Comptroller of Customs) described the measures taken in Australia to regulate the tariff. A tariff board had been established, having general functions relating to trade and industry. Tile board had no power to amend the tariff; it merely made recommendations, lie understood tho recommendations had not had very much influence with Parliament in Australia. The process of tariff amendment in -Australia was the same, as in New Zealand. Under the Australian tariff New Zealand was treated as a foreign country. New Zealand gave Australia preferential treatment. The reciprocal tariff treaty arranged with Australia by the Hon. F. AT. B. Fisher lapsed before its completion owing to change of Government in the Common wealth. There hud been eases of deliberate dumping of overseas goods in New Zealand v it?; the. object of killing a local industry.

Replying to a question, Mr. Montgomery said that the Government had no special power at present to prevent dumping from overseas countries, but he had submitted a clause somewhat similar to the law in operation in Canada. The clause bad the approval of tbe Minister of Customs. It was not proposed to interfere with dumping in eases where no local industry was threatened. He believed New Zealand should have an evolutionary tariff instead of a fixed one. The existing tarill' was not sufficiently elastic, and there was no doubt it had hampered the establishment of industries iij the Dominion. He had prepared an amendment to the customs law, which, he understood, the Minister was prepared to place before Parliament at the first opportunity. The amendment was designed to rectify anomalies and remove conditions that had been rbjurious to New Zealand manufactures. The clause provided that in' the case of an article admitted free the Minister should have the power to impose a preferential duty in favour of British Dominions.