NEW ZEALAND'S TARIFFS.

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 20920, 29 July 1933, Page 12

NEW ZEALAND'S TARIFFS.

REQUESTS TO THE COMMISSION. SITTING IN AUCKLAND ON AUGUST 1. iTRESS ASSOCIATION' TIXEGKAU.; WELLINGTON, July 28. Representations on behalf of a local firm of radio manufacturers were made before the Tariff Commission (o-day. No duty was sought on English sets or component parts, but on foreign sets a duty of 25s a valve socket was asked instead of on an ad valorem basis. In regard to Australian sets, a tariff on the basis of reciprocity was asked. On behalf of another firm a duty of 25s a socket.or 35 per cent, ad valorem, was asked, whichever was greater, on foreign sets and chassis, a 10 to 15 per cent, duty on British sets and chassis; and the free imEortation of parts which could not e made in New Zealand. B. Ginger, representing Frederick Steams and Co., Sydney, asked that certain lines manufactured by the company should be classed as medicinal preparations instead of medicated confectionery. Mr E. W. Clarkson, secretary of the Federation of Master Printers of New Zealand, said the industry opposed the alteration of the present tariff by way of increasing the duty on any basic materials used in printing and allied industries, and reducing the rate of duty at present imposed on finished or manufactured products of the printing industry, including manufactured stationery. The duties certainly extended a measure of encouragement to local producers, but it could not be said that the tariff afforded the definite protection arising from the tariffs of other Dominions. Mr J. Russell Hancock, representing a British piston ring company, asked for the reclassification of piston rings under the heading of motor vehicles, instead of metal manufactures. This would mean a reduction of dutv from 20 to 10 per cent, in the British rate, 45 to 40 r>er cent, in the general rate, and 20 to 10 per cent, in the Australian rate. The commission will leave tor Auckland on Sunday to commence the sitting there on August 1.