ALL WOOL GOODS

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 15, 12 October 1927, Page 12

ALL WOOL GOODS

KEEPING OUT COTTON A PROPOSAL REJECTED The item, “raw cotton free,” caused some discussion when the proposed tariff schedules were being put through by the House of Representatives yesterday. The Hon. D. Buddo (Kaiapoi) moved that the item should be struck out and that tile present duty of 4d. per lb. be retained. Mr. A. Harris (Waitemata) said the removal of the duty would aim a deadly blow at the all-wool manufacturing trade, and take away the good name the local mills • had gained for the quality of their products. Mr. J. McCombs (Lyttelton) made the point that if cotton were imported free a very fine material both for men’s and women’s wear might be made here with ’ fine merino wool.

Mr. W. S. Glenn (Rangitikei) said that as a woolgrower he did not want to see any cotton come into this country at all. He wanted, to see all-wool-len articles made.

Mr. J. S. Dickson (Parnell) supported the importation of cotton. At present material - ith cotton in it was coming in from England and from Japan. Therefore, the New Zealand wool industry would not suffer. Some people would even prefer some cotton in their blankets, because it could not be denied that New Zealand all-wool blankets did shrink.

Mr. W. B. Girling (Wairau) said the quantity of “union” articles imported was very considerable, the majority of the shirts being composed of cotton and wool. He hoped the amendment would be rejected to give the mills desiring to make union articles a chance to do so.

Minister’s Reply. The Hon. W. D. Stewart, in reply, said that when the former duty was imposed the high standard of New Zealand woollens was emphasised. The mills were then al! making pure woollen goods. On this occasion, however, when the representatives of the mills were giving evidence some said it would not be fair to make them compete with goods coming in in which there was a mixture of cotton. Other mills favoured the abolition of the duty and pointed out that most of the mills that wanted the duty retained were not only manufacturers but large importers. That was one of his difficulties. It depended whether they were manufacturers of a certain article or not. There were differences between those engaged in the same industry according to whether they manufactured only or manufactured and imported. Some mills wanted all wool and others wanted to use cotton. The question was the reverse of what it was in 1921, when they were unanimous that importation should be prohibited by a high duty; now some wanted to use cotton and some did not. That was the whole substance of the question as far as he understood. The amendment was negatived on the voices and the item was passed. DAYLIGHT LIMITED FEILDING’S CLAIM FOR A STOP.The vexed question as to whether should or should not be included in the list of stopping-places for the daylight Limited expresses between Wellington and Auckland was again raised in the House of Representatives yesterday by Mr. J G. Elliott (Oroua), who asked the Minister of Railways whether, in view of the fact that the time-fable for the service during the approaching summer was now being arranged he would make arrangements for the train to stop at that centre. Mr. Coates replied that the time-table had been practically finalised. He was not sure whether it had been arranged that the daylight Limited should stop at Feilding, but he would have inquiries made to ascertain whether it would be possible to have the time-table recast so as to give the facilities asked for.