TARIFF INQUIRY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 191, 15 August 1933, Page 9

TARIFF INQUIRY.

LOCAL MANUFACTURE.

PROTECTIVE DUTIES URGED. TINS AND MILK CANS. The retention of the duties on imported goods was urged by several local manufacturers before the Tariff Commission this morning. Two boatbuilding firms sought greater facility in obtaining rebates of the duty on certain equipment under section 28 of the Customs Act, which provides this eoncession in the case of goods not advantageously produced or economically manufactured in New Zealand.

Increased protection for the local fruit canning industry and a restriction on the import of apples were sought by Mr. W. A. Christcnson, of Birkdalo, and "Sir. F. Firth, of Oratia, in giving evidence before the 'commission yesterday afternoon as representatives of commercial fruit growers.

Mr. Christensen said that local cannoi's had the demand for canned pears in the Dominion which until a few years ago had been supplied from California. A canning peach equal to the Australian or Californian was now being produced in New Zealand. Australian manufacturers were helped by generous State subsidies and bounties, and in addition there was a substantial duty of 10/ a dozen British and 14/ «, dozen foreign on canned fruits. He suggested that the present duty of 35 per cent on Australian canned fruits should be increased by the amount of the bounty paid on exports.

In regard to apples, Mr. Firth said the present duty was Id for British and Australian and ljd for general. Growers were satisfied with that scale, but asked that importation be confined to Xovembcr and December. In the past large quantities of apples had been imported from British Columbia in October, November and December, and in October competed seriously with local fruit in cool storage. Reduced Duties Sought. General reductions in a long list of items were advocated by Mr. Morris H. Yock, representing J. Yock and Co., Ltd., merchants. The principal concessions sought were ae follow:—Pipes, 25 per cent Britisli preferential tariff, 50 per cent general tariff, to 15 per cent and 2-i per cent respectively; clocks, 20 per cent and 4.5 per cent to 15 per cent and 35 per cent; golf balls, 25 per cent and 50 per cent to 15 per cent and 50 per cent; pouches, 25 per cent and 50 per cent to 15 per cent and 50 per cent; perfumery, n.e.i., 35 per cent and 55 per cent to 25 per cent and 45 per cent; E.P.N.S. ware, 25 per cent and 50 per cent to 15 per cent and 45 per cent; ■watches, 20 per cent and 30 per cent to 20 per cent and 20 per cent; cigarette papers, 25 per cent and 50 per cent to 25 per cent and 25 per cent. I Mr. J. Yock submitted that a list of materials used in the manufacture of golf clubs should be admitted free. As hie factory for golf clubs had been started only last February, he. could not say what the demand was likely td be. Golf clubs were manufactured also in Wellington. Milk and Cream Cans. "We consider our ease a just and equitable one so far as the British manufacturer its concerned, in ae much as the materials used in connection with this industry are imported solely from England, and the landed cost of the raw material, which is free of duty, amounts to approximately 50 per cent of the sell' ing* price of the finished article," stated Mr. William Harvey, .a director of Alex. Harvey and Son, in- asking the Tariff Commission to-day for the retention of the present duties on imported milk and cream cans. Witness was supported by three members of the firm of Hardley's, I Limited.

Mr. Harvey added that it was most important that a large industry like the dairy industry should have factories in the country capable of manufacturing milk and cream cans, and also the neceeeary equipment for the dairy factories. The New Zealand manufacturer had grown up with the industry and produced cans that were thoroughly hygienic and designed to suit local and climatic conditions. One New Zealand manufacturer was the first in the British Empire to produce a seamless milk and cream can and had heen doing so for the last 25 years, while England always made a pieced can until about three years ago. Witness emphasised that the "cost of the cans was not a eerious item to the farmer; a ten-gallon can lasting 15 years with reasonable care, cost 34/3 net, or £d per week. The present duties are 25 per cent on British manufacture and 50 per cent plus nine fortieths ad valorem on foreign. The witness demonstrated the merits of the locally made cane in comparison with a foreign article, and Captain F. Colbeck. representing the New Zealand Farmers' Union at the inquiry, commented that the New Zealand article was the finest'in the world. Boat Building Equipment. Two Auckland boatbuildera-, Messrs. A. J. Collings and W. M. Lane, asked for a reduction of the duties on. imported hardware, earthenware, metal parts and electrical equipment, used in equipping craft. All the articles for which consideration was asked, it was stated, could not he manufactured in New Zealand and it was requested that they be brought under section 28 of the Act.

Dr. Craig asked . what percentage of the equipment was used in commercial boats and pleasure craft respectively. Mr. Collings replied that in recent years lie had built only three pleasure boats, which had all been eent overseas to American purchasers;

Mr. Paecoe pointed out that there was power under the Act, under certain conditions, for a refund", of duty to be made on articles not made .in'the'Dominion.

Mr. Collings said that he had taken the matter up with the local Customs officers, but had experienced the difficulty of having to establish the fact that the equipment was not made in New Zealand. He had made a claim only in the eaee of engines, which were a major item. He thought the onus should be on the New Zealand manufacturer to show that any of the articles were made in the Dominion. Professor Murphy: I don't think that would lie workable. Dr. Craig suggested that next time the. witnesses used imported articles an application should be made to the Customs Department in Wellington for the rebate. ..