2.9 p.c. Mill Output Affected By Policy

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31188, 12 October 1966, Page 3

2.9 p.c. Mill Output Affected By Policy

• (New Zealand Press Association) DUNEDIN, October 11.

Only 2.9 per cent of the woollen and piece goods industry’s production would be affected by the Tariff and Development Board’s recommendation to the Government to remove duty and import licence control from light-weight woollens, the Minister of Customs (Mr Shelton) said in Dunedin today.

Mr Shelton said this was a figure produced by the Tariff Board after two and a half years’ study of the situation.

“It must be remembered that there are also consumers in the country,” Mr Shelton said. “They want a variety of light-weight cloths. By allowing a greater variety of imports, they can get this instead of turning to synthetics.” , He said that the Govern-

ment had the utmost sympathy for the woollen mills and wanted them to be strong and productive. “But as the Government, we can only accept the recommendations of the Tariff Board. Having got the report, it was only sensible to implement the whole of it,” he said. “The woollen mills have tried to convey the impression wrongly that it would ruin them. We are not out to ruin the woollen mills.” Mr Shelton said that the recommendation was being given a trial for one year.

He said that he did not anticipate any other mills would need to dismiss men. Miller’s, Ltd., of Christchurch, was the only factory greatly affected because a large percentage of production was in light-weight woollens.