FOREIGN CHURNS

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 92, 15 October 1927, Page 10

FOREIGN CHURNS

A further explanation of the position in regard to the importation of churns into New Zealand from foreign countries was made in the House of Representatives yesterday afternoon by the Minister of Customs (the Hon. W Downie Stewart). Mr. Stewart said that when the matter was last before the House he had stated that the National Dairy Association was quite satisfied with the proposal in the Bill that churns from foreign countries which could not be economically produced in the British .Empire would be admittd free. Since then he had had a letter from the association stating that it had been understood that the proposal referred to testing appliances imported from Germany and that they were apprehensive that they would not be sufficiently protected in regard to churns by the power given under the Bill. He thought '♦was only fair to make that explanation to the House. At the same jme, he could assure the House that the Customs Department would" treat the dairy farmers very liberally in regard to churns which could not be economically made in the Empire, and he did not think that the farmers would have any cause for complaint. Mr. W: L. Martin (Raglan) said the dairy factories were viewing, the matter apprehensively, because the clause was qualified by the requirement that the'churns should be made economically in the Dominion, whereas it was efficiency that they should try to ensure. In view of the Minister's explanation, and in the hope that he would administer the duty in the true interests of the dairy industry, he would not press for a division.