CUSTOMS TARIFF.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16308, 24 December 1920, Page 12

CUSTOMS TARIFF.

.WIDER. INQUIRY ASKED EOR

[Fkom Our Correspondum.] M ICLLING’I OX, December *23. business men have been asking for H wider inquiry into tiie Customs tariff Uian is being conducted by tbe Departmental Committee now at work, bat tney are nob. likely to succeed. Tho object oft the inquiry is to provide the Government with expert information as to 1 tho operation of the present tariff . J lie committee has nothing before it which would indicate possible departures from present policy, and when the matter )s looked at closely it will bo realised that the actual intentions of Uie Government arc not likely to be disclosed until, when Parliament is mooting, a series of resolutions is introduced and passed at one sitting to become operative, immediately. Otherwise, there would be a big clearing of stocks troni bonded warehouses, and tho revenue 'would suffer. Possibly when tbe official inquiry has been completed. an opportunity will be a horded .hose intereste d in trade and place their views before the I'overnmeiit, and no doubt valuable inoiirintion could bo given to Cabinet '!•' 7 e mom hers of the Board of Trade. T V 1 i,s v:!,n 1,6 ascertained to-dav, be Government is not likely to make obitiouary cliangas. *‘tf e are not ~oin 4 to suddenly become free traders you may be sure of that,” remarked' a At mister tr. a representative of the] Star. The Customs policy will be one of the tasks for decision by Cabinet earlv in the New voar, as a new Customs Bill will have to bo prepared. Ministerial opinion at present inclines r,o a rather elaborate senes of preterences, the highest being to Britain and Iho countries of the ■Empire; then the preference will \ M - Mightly decreased in respect of allies in the Groat War, further diminished alien (uuitrals pind'.iets are imported , nud disappear altogether in the case ,the products of former enemies.