Re-Examination Of Cloth Duty Sought

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30941, 23 December 1965, Page 6

Re-Examination Of Cloth Duty Sought

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, Dec. 22

The Government would ask the Tariff and Development Board to re-examine duties on and exemption from import licensing of light-weight woollen fabrics, the Minister of Customs (Mr Shelton) said today.

He said the Government’s decision was because of strong objections raised by the Woollen Mills’ Association. It was also because of

allegations that implementation of the board’s interim report would cause dislocation and irreparable damage to the industry. The board would be asked whether, in the light of any further evidence and additional information that the mills or other interested parties could produce, it would now recommend any alteration to proposals submitted in its interim report. Mr Shelton said certain modifications suggested by the board to the tariff concession announced on October 7 had been adopted by the Government and would be Gazetted early next year. They excluded from the concession nursery or baby flannel and fabrics packed in airtight containers, for example sealed containers of manmade plastic film or of metal. In giving effect to these modifications, the' Government would honour the decision, published in October, in respect of any orders placed and confirmed to the date of the announcement. From that date, however, any additional commitments overseas would be dealt with in the light of any amended recommendations considered by the board to be necessary.