MARBLE AND GRANITE

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

MARBLE AND GRANITE

REINSTATEMENT OF DUTIES OPPOSED. Restoration of the old duties on marble and granite in the rough, as proposed in an amending resolution introduced into the House of Representatives yesterday, gave rise to some discussion, Mr. A. Harris (Waitemata) regretted that the Government had reinstated the duty on imported rough granite and other stone, as it would prove a serious matter to stonemasons who were engaged in working it up. The House understood the duty would be removed, and the industry had been notified to that effect. “I am sure anyone of us here would be glad to have a tombstone made of Coromandel granite,” said the Leader of the Opposition (Mr. H. E. Holland) amidst laughter. “Mr. Harris would sleep just as peacefully under that as another stone brought from Finland or elsewhere.”

Mr. T. W. Rhodes (Thames) maintained that there was plenty of marble and building stone here for all the Dominion’s requirements, and it should have been the Government’s affn to encourage its use. The new proposals would be a great disappointment to the local stonemasons.

The Minister of Customs (Hon. W. D. Stewart) replied that the question was not a policy one, and the resolution had been introduced in order to give members an opportunity of testing the House on the proposal.