Objections To Bicycle Tariff

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30447, 22 May 1964, Page 3

Objections To Bicycle Tariff

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, May 21. lhe project could be regarded as “the cotton mill that got away” if Morrison Industries, Ltd., of Hastings, received protection for its bicycles, the Tariff and Development Board was told today. The comment was made by Mr C. R. Knowles, a Wellington importer, in submissions opposing the company’s application for tariff protection.

The board is inquiring int< Import duties on bicycles, bicycle parts, and accessories. The public hearing ended today and the board will now take confidential evidence before making a report and recommendations to the Minister of Customs. “I have read and re-read what was promised by Hast-

ings—the production of a bicycle in open competition and of equal quality to imported English cycles and comparable in price with them. It was on that basis that the Minister supported the project.” In cross-examination a director of Morrisons, Mr R. R. Trotter, asked: Did we not make it clear in our submissions and in cross-examina-tion that we have mentioned the possibility of protection at earlier stages? Mr Knowles: You should have made it known to the public if that was your intention. Mr Trotter: We can’t control ministerial statements. Reference to the company’s original stated intentions was made by the assistant-secre-tary of Federated Farmers, Mr J. C. Adams, in submissions opposing the application. He said the federation objected that the Minister and Morrisons had allowed the impression to be created that the company .did nqt want protection. Submissions in opposition were also made by Mr A. Tarrant, on behalf of the United Kingdom Manufacturers and New Zealand Representatives’ Association. With the advantage of close association with two of the largest and most experienced manufacturers of bicycles, components and parts in the world, it was hard to believe Morrisons required protection against those British exporters who were, in the main, small companies, he said.