AMMUNITION PRICES

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21096, 22 February 1934, Page 6

AMMUNITION PRICES

TO THK EDITOR OF TJIB PUSS. Sir,—"The Press" recently found space for a contributed article of the "Give ourselves a pat on the back" variety relating to a New Zealand firm which manufactures ride and shotgun ammunition. Possibly the touch of romance attached to this industry justified the granting of space for the article. Perhaps "The Press" is not aware of tlie fact that for some considerable time, more particularly during the period of economic stress, there has been a great deal of dissatisfaction among gun club members and shotgun sportsmen generally concerning the extent to which they are penalised in order to preserve this industry, the cartridge department of Which does not employ more hands than may be found in any mcdium-siz.ed drapery store. Recently I 'went to a shop in Christchurcli to purchase a supply of 2 : i inch 12 gauge cartridges. On en-

quiring the prices I was astonished to And that I could obtain a certain make of American cartridge, well known to trap-shooting men throughout the country, at exactly the same price as a cartridge of similar type made in New Zealand; yet it had cost the firm 115 per cent, in duties, exchange, freight, and other charges to import the American cartridges. In the case of British shotgun ammunition, the importing costs amount to 67 per cent., made up as follows:—Exchange at 25 per cent, on wholesale price and on freight and insurance, 264 per cent.; duty (30 per cent, ad valorem on domestic values), 33 per cent.; freight, insurance, and landing charges, 74 per cent. I can well remember the time when I was able to purchase for less than 10s a 100 of the best cartridges shipped to this country by a famous British firm. A cartridge of similar class made in New Zealand to-day is advertised at 31s. A 2£ inch cartridge can be purchased in England at 9s a hundred. The same quality and class of cartridge made in New Zealand has been selling at 21s. Shooting men find it difficult to understand why shotgun ammunition macie in the Dominion cannot be sold at one-third below the present retail prices and still give a good margin of profit.—Yours, etc., LAKE ELLESMERE. February 16, 1934.