TARIFF OVERHAUL.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVII, Issue 11, 10 December 1926, Page 7

TARIFF OVERHAUL.

EXPERT COMMITTEE’S PLANS

[Special to “Standard.”]

WELLINGTON, Dec. 10. The Customs Tariff Commission of Government officials, with Mr George Craig (Controller of Customs) as chairman, proposes to work in private, and to accept evidence in confidence. Evidence will be taken at Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin, Invercargill and Wellington, but it is not expected that except under special circumstances will it be possible to hold sittings in any other centres. An endeavour was made by your correspondent to ascertain from Hon W. Downie Stewart (Minister of Customs) if the commission had been instructed to investigate any definite policy plans, such as an increase or a decrease in protection, or any variation in the tariff viewed exclusively from the revenue aspect. The reply was that the commission will take evidence from any persons desiring to make representations, and that it has a long list of anomalies which have been submitted in connection with the present tariff. These will all be investigated. The commission, said the Minister, will proceed on the same lines as a previous commission which preceded the 1903 tariff revision. The commission’s memorandum states that it will consider written representations. The report has to be completed by June 30. Where personal evidence is to be given, it should be preceded if possible by a written statement of the lines on which the witness will proceed. As a guide to witnesses, a very comprehensive outline is given of the points which will concern the commission in recommending any alterations in the tariff. All evidence, it is stated, will be regarded as confidential. QUESTIONS FROM THE COMMISSION. Witnesses who desire any tariff alteration will be required to give full particulars of their business, the nature of the desired change in duties, and the reasons. Where the industry is established in the Dominion, the commission will also desire to be informed on the following points: Average number of employees (showing male and female separately) employed in the business of manufacturing the article during the preceding three years, and the average wages paid. Average number of hours per week worked by such employees. Capital invested in such business during the last three years, under the following headings: (1) Value of plant and machinery. (2) Value of buildings. (3) Value of land used in the business.

(4) Working capital, and (5) Other division of capital. General management and distribution charges, including salary of general manager, office staff, travellers, etc. (average during the last three years). Repairs and maintenance of buildings, plant, machinery, etc., during the last three years. Rents, rates and taxes during the last three years. Value during each of the last three years (at factory selling prices) of articles produced at the factory. In the case of a tariff concession being required with a view to commencing manufacture in New Zealand, the commission is ready with an equally comprehensive set of questions, which includes such points as the proportion of labour' cost to the factory price of finished articles, amount of capital proposed to be invested, the estimated value of the Dominion’s annual requirement of. the article, and when its manufacture would be commenced if protection is granted by Parliament. In the case of existing and prospective industries, the commission is interested to know which countries at present are the keenest competitors for supplying the article, and the proportion the freight bears to the free on board value in the country of origin. A preliminary list of articles on which the commission has been asked, or proposes, to take evidence, includes over 300 items, the leading ones being apparel, chaff, confectionery, wooden doors, electrical goods, preserved fish, footwear, dried and fresh fruits and tomatoes, jam, pig iron, leather goods, machinery and agricultural implements, maize, tea, various textiles, timber, box shooks and timber for butter boxes and cheese crates, wool carpets and woollen piece goods.