IN FOREIGN BOXES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 201, 26 August 1930, Page 8

IN FOREIGN BOXES.

BUTTER FROM NEW ZEALAND.

PROTEST BY TIMBER

MERCHANTS.

NO IMPOSITION OF DUTY

(By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.)

DUNEDIN, this day.

That the timber industry of New Zealand is having to fight for its very existence, and that the tariff imposed ';y the Government on foreign timbers has been long overdue is universally recognised, but what percentage of the public is aware of the fact that New Zealand dairy companies are able to import butter boxes and cheese crates from other parts of the world, and yet escape the payment of duty? At present there are sufficient bundles of ready-cut timber lying in the goods shed at'the wharf to make up 2000 cheese crates for one of the local factories. .These crates were landed here by the Golden Coast, an Americansubsidised steamer, and represent timbers grown in California. They are all branded ready for use, one of the inscriptions being, "New Zealand dairy produce." When the matter was referred to the manager of a local dairy factory, he said that the price was the guiding factor in tile whole business. In the case of butter boxes local factories found that they could save a considerable sum by the importation of the foreign product, and that the duty intended to protect New Zealand goods was refunded nthen the boxes and crates were filled with butter and cheese and exported. As far as quality was concerned, the New Zealand white pine box could not be equalled and it was pointed out that Australian dairy producers were now placing large orders for this timber. "We have been fighting very hard to impress upon the Government the necessity for a tariff on imported butter boxes and cheese crates, but because the farmers of this country persist in their selfish attitude, the Government will do nothing to assist us," declared a representative of the timber industry. "It is absolutely absurd to think that New Zealand butter and cheese is exported in foreign boxes and crates."