MORE CHANGES

Evening Post, Volume CII, Issue 138, 8 December 1921, Page 9

MORE CHANGES

PROTECTION FOR MOTOR BODIES.

Further' amendments to the Tariff schedules were introduced in the House of Representatives last night, and submitted to the Committee of Ways and Means. • ■ ' . - ' , The Minister of Customs (the Hon. W. Downie Stewart) explained their effect briefly. He said that it was intended to1 restore the former British preference of 20 per cent, on iron and steel, instead of reducing it to 10 per cent. This .decision had been come to partly because the Public Works Department specified for British iron, and it was thought desirable to encourage the use of British iron and steel, which were of better quality than other makes. Preference of 5 per cent, in the intermediate Tariff and 10 per cent, in the general Tariff was given to wire. A new definition had been inserted for the purpose of overcoming the difficulty with regard to cash registers, so that these might' be made subject to duty. The new definition was: "Cash registering machines, not including recording paper; adding and computing machines and instruments; accounting and. bookkeeping machines; adding and typing machines." / With respect to the duty on motor vehicles, in addition to the duties of 10 per cent. British, 20 per cent, intermediate, and 25 per cent, general, it was proposed to levy duty at'the following rates: Single-seated bodies, British £5, intermediate £7 10s, general £7 10s; .double-seated bodies, £10, £15, £15; bodies with fixed or movable canopy tops (e.g.j landaulette, limousine, taxicab, and similar types, excluding those unsuited for carrying passengers), £15, £22 10s, £22 10s. This was put for consideration of the House, and it was not intended to force it through. He explained the difficulty of introducing discriminatory duties owing to evasion of duty by means of faked invoices.. He could not recommend the House to, give the protection to motor-bodiesi given in the Australian Tariff; but this,provided a little extra duty. If members thought it too much they could strike out the duty on British cars, and this would meet the American .competition which was principally complained of. Protection at the rate of £3 10s, £4 10s, and £5 10s was given on putty and wood-fillers. Sir John Luke (Wellington North) congratulated the Government on what it had done in regard to iron and other metals. He wished to know if,the Government had decided what it would do regarding bar iron, and also if protection were to be given to hat-hoods., Mr. T. K.-Sidey (Dunedin South) regretted that the Minister .had not been able to give a little protection to /the -iron-rolling mills. A little, help would have kept the industry alive, and if it were now to die the iron-users would be at the mercy of the overseas combine. Mr. Gl Mitchell (Wellington South) also , asked for protection for hat-hood makers. He was glad British preference was given on wire, and he.yet hoped the samo would be done in agricultural machinery. ■ ' Dr. Newman (Wellington East) joined in the plea for protection of hat-hoods. Various members discussed the duties on motor-bodies on the lines followed in previous debates. Mr, W. A. Veitch (Wanganui) thought it was impossible for New Zealand to give protection which would be sufficient to make motor-body building practicable. The present proposals would only make cars more expensive. Mr. Veitch did not see why protection on hat-hoods should be denied, because the industry was in its infancy. He joined with Mr. Mitchell in asking for assistance for the vulcanising industry. , ■ : , ■ Mr. Atmore suggested,an amendment to give more effective preference to British motor-car> manufacturers, but_ he agreed to withdraw it if the Minister would see if he Could draft a clause to meet the difficulty. . , ■ ■ The amendments were agreed to. The Minister proposed that musical instruments for bands of duly incorporated societies should be admitted free, • provided that if the instruments were subsequently sold to some other institution the duty should be paid. ■ • The duty on road graders.was altered from 20 per cent, ad valorem, 30 per cent, ad valorem, 35 per cent, ad valorem, to free, 10 per cent., 10 per cent., . ' .