TARIFF COMMISSION

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 135, 10 June 1933, Page 12

TARIFF COMMISSION

REQUESTS FROM IMPORTERS

Further evidence on behalf of importers .was heard by the Tariff Commission yesterday afternoon.

Mr. Harold Anthony Beauchamp, managing director of Kodak (N.Z.), Ltd., asked that films which had a celluloid ' baso should bo given tho British preference. The base was not made .in England, but the preparation for use was carried out in England. Ho also contended that tho duties on cameras were too high. At present British cameras were subject to a duty of 20 por cent, on foreign cameras to a duty of 45 por cent., plus a 22J per cent, surtax. If the duties ou cameras wero lowered, the sales would increase, and tho Customs revenue would benefit through the increased importation of photographic accessories. If the Commission could see its way to reduce the duties on cameras, • they would not object to sundries remaining as they were. The whole idea of their representation was to increase tho trado with Great Britain. It' was also asked that the cameras above half plate and enlarging apparatus should be classified as industrial material, as these were used only by professionals. Mr. Jones Smith Macarthur, managing director of the Dental and Medical Supply Company, said that the duties on dental chairs, which were classified as furniture, but which could not be made in New Zealand, were absolutely prohibitive. Tho duty on British chairs waa 25 per cent., and on foreign chairs 50 per cent., plus 9-40ths surtax. He asked that British chairs be admitted free, and that i2O per cent., plus the usual surtax, be imposed on the foreign chairs.