MOTOR VEHICLE PARTS

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 98, 19 January 1940, Page 8

MOTOR VEHICLE PARTS

New Zealand Production ’ AUTHORITY FOR USE Authority for the of certain parts produced in New Zealand, as specified from time to time by the Minister of Customs, for parts ordinarily imported with unassembled motor vehicles into New Zealand, without prejudicing the qualification of the vehicles to entry at preferential tariff rates, is contained in regulations gazetted last evening. “The object of the regulations,” said the Minister of Customs, Mr. Nash, in an explanatory statement, “is to allow and encourage the use of parts made in New Zealand in lieu of parts imported with vehicles. It is the policy of the Government to have New Zealand materials and labour utilized to a maximum in the completion of vehicles in the Dominion. ” “Importers have represented, however, that they have been hindered in that regard since the deletion of certain parts of the equipment of the vehicle would probably result in the proportion of Empire content included in the cost of the vehicle as exported to New Zealand being reduced below the figure necessary to enable the vehicle to qualify for admission at preferential tariff rates. The regulations should remove any difficulty in that regard. “In the meantime it has been decided to allow the Empire content of unassembled vehicles entitled to be entered under item 389 (a) of the Customs Tariff to be determined as if the following parts had been imported therewith, notwithstanding that under the determinations made under Section 16 of the Customs Acts Amendment Act, 1934, certain of such parts cannot be imported: Upholstery materials (excluding upholstery materials o. wool or articles made therefrom) cut to shape and whether or not preliminarily sewn; electric batteries (accumulators) ; bumper bars; undercarriage springs; seat springs (including metal frames therefor).” The Minister said the regulations applied to vehicles imported from all Empire countries.