MOTOR CAR DUTIES

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 17, 14 October 1927, Page 12

MOTOR CAR DUTIES

BRITISH PREFERENCE QUESTION AN AMENDMENT DEFEATED When the .duties on motor vehicles came under discussion in the House shortly before midnight, several members urged the Minister to either reduce the duty on British chassis from 10 per cent, ad val. to 5 per cent., or abolish it altogether. Mr. G. W. Forbes (Hurunui) hoped, the Minister would see his way to in-' crease the preference on British cars and chassis. If the chassis were admitted free the bodies could be built in New Zealand. He thought far too many American cars were coming into the country. Mr. H. T. Armstrong (Christchurch East) said there was no reason, whatever for a duty on British chassis. The Minister of Customs (Hon. W. D. Stewart) said he would be very glad to do what was asked, but it was a matter of revenue. He had already given away so much that he had to go ,verv carefully. He had done more for the’body-builders than for anybody else in New Zealand. He would be very pleased to take the duty off British chassis, but he could not give away any more revenue this year. The Leader of the Opposition (Air. H. E. Holland) said lie had had communications from manufacturers’. associations to the effect that the Minister’s proposal meant the death-blow to the motor-body industry. There was no doubt that the duty would be passed on some day; it would be necessary to secure revenue by direct taxation rather than by indirect methods. The Minister: I did not get much assistance from you when I tried in connection with the income tax. Mr. D. G. Sullivan (Avon) said he was prepared to move to reduce the proposed duty of 10 per cent, to 5 per cent. The Minister of Customs explained ■that if the amendment were carried portion of the protection on the would be removed, since the dutv covered the body as well as the chassis. (Laughter.) Mr'. Sullivan, amidst lauuhter. moved that the item be postponed to enable the Government to consider reducing the duty on chassis. On a division the amendment w'as defeated and the item was passed. NEW WHEAT DUTIES A PRELIMINARY SKIRMISH A preliminary skirmish over the wheat question took place in the House of Representatives yesterday on the appearance of new resolutions proposing a further measure of protection. Mr. G. W. Forbes (Hurunui) suggested that the best method of dealing with the wheat question was the fixation of a guaranteed price. He believed it was the Government’s desire to encourage .the industry, and lie urged them not to tackle the matter through the Customs. The Prime Minister: Would fixing the price give satisfaction? Mr. Forbes: I believe it would give every satisfaction. The Leader of the Opposition (Mr. H. E. Holland) thought that if the amended arrangement enabled the Minister of Agriculture to ensure that a certain area would be put under cultivation each year, a stable supply would be obtained for the country’s requirements, and the wheat growers would do their part. Sir John Luke (Wellington North) said he could not see how the House could set up a flat rate. Mr. J. McCombs (Lyttelton) said the price of wheat would be increased under the new tariff. The Postmaster-General; No. Mr. H. G. Dickie (Patea) wondered whv the wheat industry should be spoon-fed. The duty proposed was too high, in any case. Mr. AV. D. Lysnar (Gisborne) " expressed regret that the duty had been raised, and maintained that the Government should see to it that the price was not increased to the consumer. “What about maize?” interjected the Minister of Customs.

Mr. Lysnar: The Minister is not consistent. If he had given maize the protection I asked for, it would have been all right, but he has opened the door to let in crushed maize free He closed a smaller door, but has opened a great, big, gulping door. The new dutv was opposed also by Mr. C. E. Bellringer (Taranaki), who claimed that the increase was not in the interests of the public. Mr. T. Forsyth (Wellington East) also expressed opposition to the proposal. THE TIMBER INDUSTRY FURTHER TARIFF PROTECTION The Government’s proposals for affording further protection to the timber industry were circulated yesterday. It is provided that the Minister of Customs may direct that sawn dressed timber, or any class of it, shall be measured as if 'the actual thickness were increased bv such amount as he may prescribe, the maximum amount of 'the addition to be either threesixteenths of an inch, or 20 per cent, of the actual thickness. Previously the maximum was fixed at one-eighth ji; an inti-