LOCAL INDUSTRIES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 194, 18 August 1933, Page 8

LOCAL INDUSTRIES.

PROTECTION OF TARIFF.

TIE MANUFACTURERS' CASE.

A request for continuance of the protection afforded the tie manufacturing industry in the Dominion was sought by Mr. Joseph A. Weir, manager of the Parisian Tie Company, and Mr. W. Gibson, of T. Curtis, N.Z., Ltd., when giving evidence before the Tariff Commission this morning. At present imported made-up ties are subject to a duty of 27* per cent British and 50 per cent foreign, and it was asked that these rates be continued. In urging that the existing rates on tie silks for manufacture (British free, and foreisrn 15 per cent) be not altered, especially the foreign rate, the witnesses stated that 90 per cent of the supplies were of foreign origin. The tie silk industry was catered for in the main by the Continental mills, and that sour.ee had to be drawn upon, even though sterling rates nd free entry of British silks gave the British product an advantage. The British tie manufacturers relied on the same sources as New Zealand.

Removal of the tariff differentiation in regard to tie silks containing wool was requested. At present this class of material is subject to 20 per cent duty for, the British product and 45 per cent foreign. It was requested that they be placed on the same plane as tic silks, containing silk or artificial silk. Protection Against Japan. "We claim that the industry . is economic, but tariffs are necessary to offset the labour conditions, ce* : ts of material and money values overseas." ! said Mr. A. W. Beeson, of the Dominion Brace Company. Supported by H. M. Spences, witness sought retention of the present tariff of 27 per cent on braces, belts, garters and arm bands from the United Kingdom, an increase of the foreign duty from 50 per cent to 55 per cent, and alteration of the 27} per cent plr.s 9/40tbs surtax on these jroods from Empire countries to a straight-out duty of 35 per cent. The witness also sutgested that no ad valorem duty was sufficient protection against the Japanese products and he asked that a snecific duty per dozen be imposed as follows: Braces 7/, belts and garters 3/6, and arm bands 2/6.