TARIFF INQUIRY

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 53, Issue 210, 17 June 1933, Page 3

TARIFF INQUIRY

RETENTION OF DUTY URGED.

THE MATCH INDUSTRY. , (Special to the "Guardian.") WELLINGTON, June IG. The match industry occupied the attention of the Tariff Commission this morning, when representatives of the two companies operating in New Zealand tendered evidence.

Walton McLay, a director of Bryant and May, Bell and Co., Ltd., a&kei for the retention of the present dudes. The foreign duty in all cases is double the British preferential tariff. Witness said their chief competition came from Sweden, Finland, Russia, Belgium and Japan. They were at present making wax matches only, but were installing machinery for the manufacture of wooden matches. They wore receiving the co-operation of the Forestry Department in their search for suitable timber, and some trees had already been planted. New Zealand paper and glue would also be used, and it was their, policy to use New Zealand materials wherever possible. In the Dominion, money wages were 3o' per cent higher than in Great Britain. Witness submitted that the maintenance of the present tariff would come within the Ottawa Agreement. Frederick William Cleavm, ft director of the New Zealand Wax Vesta Company, also pressed for a continuance of the present tariff.

Electric Stoves. Harold Ernest Taylor, New Zealand manager of the British General Electric Company, made representations on behalf of his own and several other firms. He asked for the removal of the duty of 20 per cent, ad volorem on electric stoves from the United Kingdom. He contended : —■ (1) That owing to the high test of packing and freight, the local manufacturer was afforded ample protection without the duty.

(2) That the duty of 20 per cent, on stoves from the United Kingdom, with the corresponding duty on foreign stoves meant an imposition in money value set out of proportion to the amount expended in the local manufacture of stoves.

(3) That as his principals had gone to considerable expense in manufacturing for New Zealand requirements they were entitled to a fair share of the market.

(4) That the remission of the duty on the stoves would enable thenfto be sold more-cheaply, and thus stimulate sales.

Replying to Mr A. E. Mander, witness said that the main competition came not from Canada but from New Zealand manufacturers. The application concerned stoves only. Mr Mander: The freight that you consider the importer has to pay would be an adequate natural protection for the local manufacturer? What is the freight on a stove? Witness: It depends on the stove, but you can reckon it at nearly £3. You admit that the freight a manufacturer, say, in Christchurch would have to pay on stoves sent to Auckland is quite an offset against the natural protection ? Witness: To a certain extent, yes. Glucose. Aubrey Schloss, a director of J. L. Lennard, Ltd., asked that a duty of 25 per cent, ad valorem be imposed on glucose from foreign countries in order to protect the British product against dumping. ( AU materials used-in the British product came from within the Empire. Great Britain could supply all the glucose required* in New Zealand. His firm, he said, had had an assurance from its principals in England that if the duty were imposed on the foreign product, the product would be kept at as low a price as possible.