BRITISH MOTOR CARS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 198, 22 August 1930, Page 5

BRITISH MOTOR CARS.

IMPORTS THROUGH CANADA.

DEPUTATION TO PRIME MINISTER.

"SITUATION NOW ALTERED."

(By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, Thursday. A plea for further preterence to British manufacturers, especially in Tegard to motor cars, was made to the Prime Minister, the Hon. G. W. Forbes, to-day by a deputation representing the British (U.K.) Manufacturers' Association of New Zealand. It was claimed that the preference given to Canada was working out unfairly against Great Britain in that many American makes of cars were receiving the benefits of the Canadian preference. The Prime Minister said the Government was at present considering the question of the Canadian ditties. Mr. P. H. Scott said it was felt that the Government had not reaped the full benefit of the preference it had extended to British manufactures. The increased rates of duty imposed by Parliament even in 1926, which aimed at giving preference to the manufacturers of the L'nited Kingdom, had not been collected in regard to the majority of ears bearing the names of manufacturers in the U.S.A. The manufacturers in foreign countries other than L'.S.A., such as France. Italy, etc., not being geographically placed so as to have the privilege of using Canada or any other section of the British Empire as a distributing point, were compelled to pay the maximum rates of duty fixed by Parliament. "It may surprise you to learn," said Mr. Scott, "that out" of 27 cars bearing American names and trademarks Dtily about five of them are paying the American rate of duty which Parliament provided and expected they would have to pay from 19*26 onwards. At to-day's date we find 27 cars bearing U.S.A. names and trademarks and about 22 of that number coming to New Zealand from Canada and paying the same rate of duty as cars from the Homeland. By 1929 this development had progressed to such an extent that imports of cars from Canada were very little short of the imports from the U.S.A. The figures were: U.S.A £1.355.283 Canada £1,303,769 "The duty on the Canadian imports would work out at £315.502. Had the whole paid the American rate of duty the amount would have been £745,756, a difference of £430.254. Allowing for cars which would under normal conditions be the product of Canada it is a conservative estimate to state this Dominion's loss of revenue is not less than a quarter of a million." Mr. Scott presented figures to show that between 1926 and 1929 the imports of tyres from Canada were very little short of doubling, whereas the imports from U.S.A. had dwindled to almost onethird. Replying to the deputation, the Prime Minister said it was the desire of the I Government to do everything possible 'to help Great Britain. That was shown by the preferences which had already been given. It was his intention when in England to go into the question of the proportion of British labour used in the production of British manufactures. The question of the preference given to Canadian goods was at present receiving the consideration of the Government. In the past New Zealand had treated Canada very liberally, but the fact that Canada had turned New Zealand down in the matter of butter duties altered the situation. The increase in the butter duties from M to 2d was not quite fair, and the Government was entitled to review the question of Canadian preference. The Prime Minister said he would consider the representations of the deputation.