MOTOR IMPORT TARIFF.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 25, 30 January 1926, Page 15

MOTOR IMPORT TARIFF.

TAXING OF BODIES. LOCAL BUILDERS , INTERESTS. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) "WELLINGTON, Friday. Since it became known that the purchasers of about five acres of crown land at Petone were the firm of General Motors of New Zealand Ltd., and that the intention of the company was to J carry on car assembly work, some secI tions of the motor trade, in the Dominion, particularly the body building trade, have been very much concerned. A large deputation representing the body builders of New Zealand waited on the Prime Minister and the Minis-ter of Customs, Hon. W. Downie Stewart, this morning, putting forward suggestions I that unassembled bodies be assessed as motor bodies, that strict enforcement be made by the preferential rates and conditions, and that there be a stipulaitiou that every three completed ears or [bodies, assembled or unassembled, be accompanied by one chassis. The necessity for the enforcement of the legislation passed for the suppression of trusts and combines was urged in the interests of secondary industries, also the protection of the legitimate British manufacturer against the use now being made of Canada by American importers to defeat British preference. Mr. Stewart replied that other organisations had also claimed* the right to be heard before a final decision was come to. He had the assurance of the Controller of Customs that the inspecti ing officers of the department in [America were perfectly clear in regard !to the point raised by the deputation as to the mode of assessment and cost in America. The Customs Department was fully alive to the importance of Eeelng that the unassembeld parte coming in ! were charged a rate of duty on a fair and proper basis. The Prime Minister asked the deputation to supply particulars regarding the different kinds of cars affected, country or origin, etc. He said a definite reply to the deputation must be deferred until the Government had heard from all the interested parties.