HARDWARE SUPPLIES

Evening Post, Volume CI, Issue 54, 4 March 1921, Page 10

HARDWARE SUPPLIES

GOVERNMENT ACTION CRITICISED.

(II IILgMAI'H.—I'RIM AMOCUTIOI.I

DUNEDIN, 3rd March.

In the course of the proceedings of the conference of the New Zealand Hardware Association, just concluded at Queeiietown, the following motion was carried : "That we, 'the hardware merchants of New Zealand, in conference assembled, protest against the practice of Government departments in importing large quantities of sirpplies from abroad, and in their establishment of large stocks in New Zealand, thus withdrawing support from local merchants at a time when ample supplies are available in the Dominion. We contend that,, as the Government hap a right to, and does, impose heavy taxation upon traders by way of an! annual license for the right to trade, import duties, and income tax, and also demands large sums by way of compulsory contributions to Government loans, importers have a right to demand that the Government shall not enter into unfair competition, but that it should foster and encourage trade ■within the Dominion to the fullest extent possible, rather than spend i«Miey outside of the Dominion. We contend, further, that when loss of revenue, cost of handling,' administration, interest, and other charges are taken into account, what appears, at first sight, to be a .saving, is not real, and that the Government really gains nothing by this very unfair practice."