TARIFF ON MOTOR VEHICLES

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 255, 25 July 1935, Page 11

TARIFF ON MOTOR VEHICLES

Assembly in Dominion NEW CUSTOMS RATES ON BODIES Ministerial Statement A statement as to tariff revision in respect of motor-vehicles assembled in New Zealand was made yesterday by the Acting-Minister of Customs, Hon. A. Hamilton. “When the tariff was revised last year, the opportunity was taken, in respect of motor-vehicles imported into New Zealand in an unassembled or completely knocked-down condition, to provide for lower duties than the duties applicable in respect of such vehicles imported completely set up,” he said. "This was done with the object of encouraging the assembly of motor-vehicles in the Dominion, thus providing employment for large numbers of New Zealanders and a greater use of locally-manufactured materials in the completion of the vehicles. “The Customs Act empowers the Minister of Customs to determine the goods which may be entered as unassembled or completely knocked down motorvehicles, and in the New Zealand Gazette of October IS, 1034, were published the determinations of the Minister with, respect to the goods which might be so entered. These determinations were to be revoked as from August 31 next and new determinations, made on December 4 last and published in the Gazette of the 6th of that month, were to come into force on .September 1 next.

“During the recent visit of the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates to the United Kingdom, the question was further investigated, and it has now been decided to allow, under certain conditions, bodies for passenger motor-vehicles (other than omnibuses) to be imported in the form of a shell; seat springs to be imported assembled in the metal frame; and upholstery materials (of other than wool) to be imported cut to shape but with no further process of manufacture other than that of preliminary sewing performed thereon. “Plain or machined metal panels not being built up for the manufacture of all-steel cabs for commercial trucks or delivery vans will also be admitted at the lower duties if imported with the unassembled chassis with which they are to be used. “The determinations which were made on December 4 last will be cancelled and new determinations to give effect to the decision of the Government will be published when Mr. Coates returns to the Dominion. “It is confidently expected that the new conditions will result in practically all manufacturers of motor-vehicles in the United Kingdom having the vehicles which they export to New Zealand assembled in the Dominion.”