N.Z. INDUSTRIES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 198, 22 August 1932, Page 8

N.Z. INDUSTRIES.

READY FOR SURVEY.

OTTAWA PRINCIPLE SOUND

REASONABLE PROTECTION.

The president of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce, Mr. A. M. Seaman, said the issues raised both, as regards import and export concessions called for a knowledge of detail which could only be looked for from those intimately affected. Undoubtedly, however,, the producers had secured substantial advantages and apparently without tm. local manufacturers being called upon to suffer. . "The principle to govern the proposed duty concessions," added Mr. Seaman, "appears to be that the efficient local industry is to be regarded as entitled to such protective duty as will reasonably balance up the higher costs which our internal' conditions impose. A reasonable man should desire no more, and it is against the interests .of the community that protection ' should be afforded on any higher basis. A most important angle is that the importer will feel secure in that he will now have a reasonable assurance against sudden changes in duties which frdm; time to time in the past have involved him in serious losses. This feeling of security will undoubtedly be reflected in benefits to' the public as an importer, secure on his ground, can give the consumer the benefit of price changes." A scientific Survey. Mr. S. Takle, president of the Auckland Manufacturers' Association, said that manufacturers in New Zealand had always been prepared for a scientific survey of industry. "For a considerable time," he said, "we have realised that increasing duties have been imposed not for the purpose of .protecting local industry so much as for the purpose of increasing revenue to the Consolidated Fund? Where duties can be lowered \vitfl?-':the object of increasing trade with Britain without seriously affecting necessary New Zealand manufacturing industries, we are certainly agreeable to that course being taken. Great Britain has assented to the idea of the Dominion's maintaining her manufacturing industries. What is necessary now is a scientific survey \6f the tariffs, carried out by a small commission of representative men who will'see what can be done to give effect to the arrangement that has "been entered into with Great Britain, without, abolishing necessary industries, blocking outlets for the labour and brains of our citizens, ir interfering With those industries which are catering for the necessities of the primary producers." '

Mr. Takle said the effect of- the new arrangement could not be assessed until a proper investigation had been completed and the findings announced. He had never had any serious fear for the manufacturing industries of New Zealand, for in the main they were based on sound lines, and only a small percentage were .'what could be called uneconomic.

Protection Needed. A prominent importer said he and his principals had always considered that the' local * manufacturer was' entitled to a certain amount of preference against the overseas manufacturers, and that if no protection were afforded he would be placed in an impossible position. Of course, some of the industries were too highly protected, and that policy was an uneconomic, one. Those industries should not be bolstered up, but there should be,protection for those conducted on an economic basis. In the absence of complete details it was not possible to comment on the terms of the arrangement reached at Ottawa.