TARIFF INQUIRY

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 96, 20 October 1933, Page 10

TARIFF INQUIRY

FURTHER EVIDENCE

BRITISH BISCUITS

The Tariff Commission continued its sittings today. , The Comptroller of Customs (Dr. G.. Craig) presided, and associated with him were Professor B. E. Murphy and Messrs. J. B. G'ow and G. A. Pascoe.

A reduction in the British preferential duty of 20 per cont. on. electric heating elements, range . plates, and radiators imported by the General Machinery Company, Wanganui, was asked for by the manager,. Mr. E. A. Millward.

Kepresenting the National Federation of Clay Industries of England, Mr. ■H. • Lowen, managing director of Gilbert Lodge and Co., Ltd., sought the removal of tho duty of 20 per cent, on British firebricks with a. view to giving British manufacturers the opportunity of reasonable competition with the local producers. Mr. Lowen said that for several years.prior to 1931 New Zealand provided a steadily increasing market for British firebricks and refractory goods, as was evidenced by tho increase of more than 250 per cent, between 1920 a:nd 1930. During 1931 the exports to: New Zealand fell considerably. British manufacturers of firebricks were anxious to maintain and extend their market in New Zealand, and wished to draw attention to the high freight, packing, 'and insurance charges which, it was claimed, ia themstelves afforded ample and full protection for the ' Now Zealand industry, apart from the substantial additional protection ■ resulting: from the recent increase in the exchange rate. The present foreign duty was 45 per cent., and it would be ■ satisfactory if the present margin between the British and foreign duties was maintained. ' Mr. Lowen asked that t.he British duty on fire clay should also be reviewed. • '

On behalf of the National Association of Biscuit Manufacturers of Great Britain, Mr. L. G. Moss, managing. director of H. W. Moss, litd., applied for the abolition of the duty, of 20 per- cent, on British biscuits. He referred to the fact that during the past five years the average annual value of biscuits exported from the United Kingdom was £870.118, and quoted figures showing that in practically every case the retail price of the British. biscuits in New Zealand was more than double the rotail price in Great Britain. The disparity was due to special export packing charges, freight, duties, retailers' profit, and exchange. Even with the abolition of the duty the price of British biscuits to.the consumer in New Zealand would be far above the price of the locally-made product... Mr. Moss said that the value of Now Zealand produce purchased by members of the association during 1932 was £27,247, which was 16.954 times greater than the value of the biscuits exported from the United Kingdom to New Zealand by all British manufacturers.

EFFICIENCY OF INDUSTRY,

Mr. A. B. Mander, secretary of tlie New Zealand Manufacturers' Federation, said that the figures supplied showed that English biscuit.firms were selling their products in England at prices equal to and in some cases higher than the'prices of New Zealand biscuits in New Zealand. In view of the vastly greater production in England, he suggested that the industry at Home was either inefficient or was making an excessive profit. Mr. Moss replied that it was really a question of overhead charges. The cost of raw materials was much higher at Home than in New Zealand.

Mr. Mander: I am putting it to you that your industry is not a suitable or natural one for exporting to New Zealand. .

Mr. Moss said that the English firms exported tb every country in the world. It was only on account of tho high landing charges that the prices in New Zealand were not lower. They did not expect to be able to compete with the New Zealand industry.

Mr. .Mander: You cannot produce as cheaply. It is not a question of landing costs. . • ■ • ' Professor Murphy .pointed out -that tho New Zealand agent could not bo expected to know the internal workings of tho English industry.

EARTHENWARE GOODS.

Mr. H. W. Kcrsley, of E. A. Christie and Co., Ltd., representing tho Sanitary Earthenware Manufacturers' Association, England, asked for the abolition of tho duty of 20 per cent, on British sanitary earthenware. Ho said that it cost over 100 per cent, on the f.o.b. prico to land tho goods in New Zealand, and the British manufacturers were quite unablo to compete with the local industry. ~. It was claimed that freight, landing, and insurance charges and exchange gave tlio local manufacturers adequate protection without a duty. .... .

Mr. E. .T. Hyams, managing director of E. J. Hyams and Co., Ltd., applied for a reduction of tho duty of 25 per cent, on British, golf club heads not fitted to., shafti, »