TARIFF INQUIRY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 184, 7 August 1933, Page 3

TARIFF INQUIRY.

AUCKLAND EVIDENCE.

THE LEATHER INDUSTRY.

RETENTION OF BTJTIES

The hearing of additional evidence from interests in Auckland was resumed by the Tariff Commission this morning.

The case for the leather industry was stated by Messrs. T. E. Lawrie and 11. Ross for the New Zealand Tanners' Association. Ton firms were represented in a statement read bv Mr. Lawrie.

Except in the ease of chamois leather, Mr. Lawrie wished the present rate of duty to be retained.

Sir. Lawrie said that tlio plant of the association was valued at £100,000. There were 303 persons employed in the tanning industry, the wages ot' whom amounted to £90,000. Each year 800,000 sheepskins and 135,000 hides were treated with a total value of £147,000, which figure was paid annually for New Zealand primary products. Materials apart from wages, used for converting purposes, amounted to £00,000.

"We claim," said Mr. Lawrie, "that coupled with other leather-using trades we form a group of industries that would be essential in times of emergency, such as war."

Supply of Heavy Leather. The question of heavy leather in the Dominion was raised by Professor B. E. Murphy. ill. G. A. Pascoe said that it had been slated that New Zealand tanners had not been able to fulfil the demands for certain bends of leather of 121b and over in the past three years.

Mr. Lowrie: If that has occurred in the past three years it would be only when we were caught short.

Mr. Pascoc: But you have been asked for bends that you could not supply. Mr. Lawrie: Yes, I think so. Dr. G. Craig: Would Kill) bend be the heaviest in New Zealand. Mr. Lawrie: Yes. Dr. Craig: Can that be made in New Zealand ? Mr. Lawrie: Yes. Mr. J. 3. Gow: If you had the pick of New Zealand hides you could supply plenty of that sort'! Mr." Lawrie: Far too much.

Mr. Pascoc asked whether New Zealand sole leather was as good as United Kingdom leather. Mr. Lawrie replied that it was. He said the Department of Scientific Research had made laboratory and practical tests of New Zealand leather, and he handed the commissioner a printed report, which showed that New Zealand sole leather had a definitely slower water absorption than English leather. He added that the Tanners' Association was willing to have a comparison made between imported and New Zealand leather, by any competent authority. At this" stage the hearing went into committee.

Steel and Iron. The imposition of a duty of 20 per cent on reinforcing rods, channels, angles, tees, joists and plates if imported from Australian rolling mills, was sought by Mr. A. G. Cooke, a director of John Burns, Ltd., merchants, of Auckland.

Witness also asked for the maintenance of the free entry of pig iron from Empire countries on the grounds that it provided a stimulus in development of the engineering and allied industries, and that it would-be many years before the local industry would have reached a to warrant special protection. Pi"-" iron from India, ho contended, should not be penalised by a dumping duty, where the Australian product came in duty-free. The application of the Xcw Zealand Importers' Association for an increase in the measure of preference accorded United Kingdom cast iron pipes over the Australian, was supported.