RAW MATERIAL.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 77, 31 March 1928, Page 9

RAW MATERIAL.

IN RUBBER INDUSTRY. Proposed Levy For Research Funds. BILL m COMMONS.

(By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright.)

(Received 12 noon.) LONDON', March 30. Mr. R. Waddington (Con., Rossendale), in introducing the second reading of the Rubber Industry Bill in the House of Commons, said that the Central Research Association, which had a laboratory at Croydon, was a highly necessary institution and required funds.

Out of 122 firms in the trade 95 were in favour of the bill, while those opposing it represented only nine per cent of the capital in the industry. The proposed principle of contributions was the same as that of maintenance of the Empire Cotton Growing Corporation, where there was an obligatory levy on cotton. This levy produced £90,000 yearly, whereas a rubber levy would produce £15,000.

Some members objected to the compulsory nature of the levy.

He said that the levy would not exceed l-10th of a penny per lb on raw rubber imported into Britain for home consumption in order to provide the income of £15,000 yearly for the Central Research Association.

Mr. C. Atkinson, K.C. (Con., Altringham), in moving the rejection, said that out of thirteen members of the association, eight belonged to the Dunlop group, but it was proposed to force the whole industry to contribute to the research work. The big tyre concerns would dominate the association and learn everyone's secrets.

Sir Philip Cunliffe Lister (President of the Board of Trade), supporting the bill, said that centralised research was very important to British industries. The second reading was carried. —(A. and N.Z. and Sydney "Sun.")