PRINTING MACHINEREY

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 56, 15 September 1928, Page 11

PRINTING MACHINEREY

A REBATE QUESTIONED In-'.tho1 House of yes-.! terday, when the Customs DepartmentVote was being cpnsi'dorcd, Mr. M. J: Savage ' OVuckland. West) . raised a question regarding a rebate granted to the Wellington Publisliing Company on. machinery imported.from America. Mr. Savage said. that., the lmptype machine concerned could, be made in England, but-"The'Dominion'.' had im- . ported it from America, and had received a rebate :in dutj\ ■' That was.'not according, with' the.spirit of granting preference' to British manufacturers. Tiio Minister, of Customs (the Hon. W. Downie Stewart) said that since November, 1927,! there hadbecu fifteen lots. of importations falling under- a .similar heading to .that complained of. There had been quite a.largo, number of cases since- tho tariff was passed , in which the Department either had definitely satisfied itself that in the meantime it was not reasonable to compel manufacturers in New Zealand to get ■ British machinery^, or else were not satisfied with- the quotations of British manufacturers for. the type.of machine particularly desired in any way-..com-pared favourably, with thoso from other countries. There were cases'also where dairy farmers were.concerned. with im: plcmeiits and machinery in the same way. ' At'the time of the passing, of the tariff the House realised..much'assistance was, being given /to Britain, and that, tho Department, would be, relied upon to see that undue imposition was not madq. on, producers and manufacturers in "New. Zealand. The'jMinist.er said that,the Government Printing Office had been obliged.to purchase a guillotine, made in Germany,, as what was required could not; bo obtained in Great Britain. There must bo. some flexibility; a'ddfld the. Minister, so that, hardship would not', be imposed . on. manufacturers'.' '.'.".' ..' ' Mr. Savage'moved/.that the. Customs Vote be reduced. by/£5, as. an indication of the Committee's disapproval of the granting.of a rebate to "The Dominion" on 'machinery v iijiported..' from America. .."'.,'.'. . . The amendment was defeated by 39 votes to .14.. ...