Penalty on Apples angers schools

Press, 27 July 1982, Page 25

Penalty on Apples angers schools

Local secondary schools that have ordered Apple microcomputers under the brand’s special offer are angry that the Customs Department has imposed a dumping duty of 8820 on each machine. “We are absolutely horrified," said Miss J. D. Prisk, headmistress of Christchurch Girls’ High School. "It is very short-sighted not to let the schools buy at the special price." Apple was offering a single-disc Apple II computer for $1200: the normal price is more than $4OOO. Girls' High School would probably still take delivery of the Apple, said Miss Prisk. but this would reduce the amount of money in its computer fund, with which it had hoped to buy another computer. The fund was a result of fund-raising efforts and the generosity of parents. Miss Prisk said she had to think of her own school, rather than the principle of the dumping issue. "We all know that this is a big advertising gimmick by Apple." she said, "but it is important for the girls to get their hands on computers." The principal of Linwood High School (Mr W. G. Swan) expects the school will have to withdraw its order. Mr Swan believes the Government should not have let the situation arise. "Because of the importance of computer education the Government should supply computers to schools." he said. Mr Swan also . has sympathy for smaller schools which are disadvantaged because they cannot normally raise funds for a computer and may have been able to buy one under the offer. “It is important that all schools be given a chance to prepare students equally.” he said, noting the impact that computers will have on future employment. "The offer enabled small schools to compete." said Mr S. G. Kitto, headmaster of the Amuri Area School. "It is quite likely that we will be unable to proceed." "The Education Department has failed to give a lead." said Mr Kitto. "The time is well nigh when some

move could have been expected from the department. Without that the Apple offer was very attractive." The Apple II is a popular computer in South Island schools and many have ordered one during the period of the offer. "I don't know a school that hasn't ordered one." said Mr Mike Wall, lecturer in computer education at Christchurch Teacher's College. Mr Wall was relieved by the magnitude of the duty. "It could have been worse.” he said. “At $2OOO it is still a very cheap computer.” The Apple distributor. ,CED Distributors. Ltd. has now announced a follow-up offer which is likely to cement its dominance of the school-computer market. High schools will be able to buy two Apple II computers for the price of one — which brings the unit price to about $2500. Schools will be able to buy only one pair each under this offer. Later the offer will be extended to intermediate and primary schools, who will be able to buy one unit at half price. “The saga continues," said Mr lan Coombe. general manager of Polycorp, the company making the Poly computer. Polycorp made the dumping complaint to the Customs Department. “The duty and the followup offer still leave Apple in a situation of very serious discounting,” said Mr Coombe. "It is a pretty substantial setback. We had been making real progress: the move to Poly was very apparent.” Polycorp is the manufacturer which will be most affected by the Apple offers. “To protect our operation and New Zealand's investment we had to take the action we did." said Mr Coombe. "We were very conscious that it would have a negative impact." Mr Coombe is not aware of any further action that Polycorp can take. "We haven't had a chance to assimilate what the impact of the duty or next offer will be on us."We have been continuing to get sales during the period, but at a significantly lower level than we had budgeted for."