The New Tariff.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5333, 10 August 1895, Page 6

The New Tariff.

FUETHER PROTESTS. Sixteen people assembled at the Oddfellows' Chambers yesterday evening in response to the advertisement of the Industrial Association, asking those inter* eßted in the alterations in the Cnstomß tariff to lay their views before the Association. The President (Mr H. Kirk) said that he was sorry that there was ao sparse an attendance. It; was hardly worth while, therefore, to hold the meeting. The beßt plan would be for anyone wishing to make complaints to forward them in writing to the Association, which would act as a medium through which they would raach Parliament. They had already received two or three communications, He believed that the small attendance was accounted for to some extent by the fact that tha representatives of several trades had laid their N complaints before Parliament through another channel. A gentleman present asked if any other invitation than the advertisement had been issued to the trades unions. M,r Kirk replied in the negative. The gentleman stated that on Wednesday he had attended the Bootmakers' Union meeting, which apparently knew nothing about this meeting, though perhaps individual members might have known about it. The Union had taken great interest ia this tariff question, and had sent its objections by telegraph to different members. Mr Kirk said that the meetiing had been advertised six times. The gathering then separated. Mr C. P. Hulbert has sent the following communication to the Industrial Association :— "There are thousands of dozens of men's and boys' shirts and numberless articles of wearing apparel for women and children made up in the colony from union and flannelette material, employing & large number of people. The 20 per cent duty proposed by the Government upon these materials, or even 10 per cent, would, in a great measure, prevent these goods being manufactured here, as it would be more profitable to import thearcicles ready made, in consequence of the great difference of the cost of labour in New Zealand and in the older countries. The statement made that flannelettes enter into competition with our woollen mills is simply ridiculous to anyone with a knowledge of the trade. If it were possible to manufacture flannel in this colony at halt its present cost, it could not compete with flannelette in regard to price. If calicoeß, union and linen, fronting, wristings, interliningß, &c, used in the making of men'B white and other shirts (thousands of dozens of which are imported annually), were all admitted duty free, factories would soon be established and employment provided for a largely increasing number oE applicants for work of a light, clean character, who are physically incapable and unaccustomed to heavy factory labour and its association!. The Colonial Treasurer's estimate of revenue, viz.,£ll,ooO,derivablefrom union and flannelette shirtings, is, in my opinion, much understated unless he anticipates a considerable reduction in> the consumption in consequence of the increasing poverty of the people. Materials being admitted duty free is a reasonable and legitimate encouragement to manufacturers, and tha employment of labour, without the objection of increasing tha cost to the consumer like heavy duties on manufactured goods. This applies to all materials which cannot profitably be made in the colony, and which would employ labour to mako up into garments. This, in my opinion, is the most effective method of employing our own people instead of those of other countries. The question is asked why so few of those interested gave evidence before the Tariff Commission. One reason is the fact that previous Commissions have for various reasons been more or lets failures and a waste of public money ; and ; the laßtone,in the opinion of most buisness people, was certainly no exception." Mr Drapper, paper-bag maker, hat forwarded a communication to the Industrial Association, stating that before 1887 the , duty on cap paper for bags was 2s 6d per ; cwt. To protect the colonial manufacturer 2s 6d more was put on. After waiting patiently for seven years, and paying the extra 2s 6d, it was found that the paper made by the colonial manufacturers was not suitable for all purposes. Therefore paper-bag makers still had to import. A further duty of Is wai now added, making 30 per cent, while imported bags, of whioh tons were brought into the colony every year, paid only 25 per cent. Messrs Whitcombe aud Tombs have written stating that the tariff is rather favourable to their trade, except as to two important items, which should have been admitted free, whereas an extra 5 per cent had been imposed in both instances. These were cartridge papers, largely used in making school drawing books; and copying papers, used extensively in making all kinds of copying letter books. It wbb true that an extra 10 per cent had been put on the imported books, but that would not be sufficient protection, seeing that there is a duty of 20 per cent oa the

paper as it leaves the mill; and the cheaper kinds of letter books would atiU have to be imported. _