CREAM SEPARATORS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 53, Issue 255, 9 August 1933, Page 7

CREAM SEPARATORS

THE TARIFF COMMISSION. RIVAL INTERESTS HEARD. {Per Press Association). AUCKLAND, August 8. Evidence from rival interests dealing in cream separators was heard by, the Tariff Commission. Mr P. E. Miller,' general manager of the Lister Separator Company (N.Z.), Ltd., asked for the imposition’ of a duty of 20 per cent, on foreign separators. He said that the selling price of separators was too high, hut nw company could not yet make a reduction owing to intense Swedish competition. The New Zealand Co-operative Dairy Co., Ltd., following exhaustive, tests, now recommended the exclusive use of his firm’s separators. Professor Murphy: Who owns the share capital of the Lister company? Witness: Amalgamated Dairies, Ltd. Professor Murphy: Is that the group associated with the New Zealand Cooperative Dairy Co., Ltd.? Witness: Yes. Professor Murphy: That would detract to some extent from the -weight to be attached to the testimonial from the dairy company. I am not, of course, saying this by way of adverse comment. The application was opposed by Mr W. S. Dingle, general manager of the Alfa-Laval Separator Co., who eulogised the efficiency of the Swedish machine, which composed 74 per cent, of the sales in New Zealand. He said that the proposed duty would result in increased retail prices, thus increasing farmers’ costs.