DUTIES ON TOOLS

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 31988, 15 May 1969, Page 12

DUTIES ON TOOLS

Reply From Minister The Emergency Protection Authority had found that New Zealand manufacturers of garden hand tools had the capacity to supply the domestic market within the range of their production, the acting Minister of Customs (Mr Adams-Schneider) said yesterday, replying to a complaint by a British manufacturer against the duty on garden trowels and hand forks. The authority had been asked to make an inquiry after a request by local manufacturers for protection because of the decision to re-

move the goods from import licensing control, the Minister said. Local manufacturers did not make premium-grade garden hand tools, and the duty formula recommended by the authority and applied by the Government was designed to provide a protective tariff for medium-quality tools within the range of local production, while admitting top-quality tools from the United Kingdom free of duty. It was apparent from the level of the duties complained about that the British manufacturer’s trowels or forks were of a relatively cheap nature.

Mr Adams-Schneider said the duties were temporary and imposed only until the Tariff and Development Board had made a full inquiry at which all interested parties would be given the opportunity to make submissions.

The Government was fully conscious of its trading relations with other countries and bore in mind agreements with trading partners when considering recommendations of the Tariff and Development Board, the Minister said.