LOCAL INDUSTRY

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 110, 6 November 1933, Page 8

LOCAL INDUSTRY

TARIFF INQUIRY

FINAL SUBMISSIONS

CASE FOE PROTECTION

Final submissions on behalf of the New Zealand Manufacturers' Federation opposing abolition or reduction of the existing tariff were made to the Tariff Commission today by Mr. A. E. Mander, secretary of the federation.

He submitted it had been proved (1) that protected manufacturing industries were of considerable social and economic value to the Dominion; (2) that tho amount of protection required was, in general, at least as much as that afforded by the existing tariff, while in-certain cases an increase of protection was justifiable; (3) that . the amount of protection enjoyed today was well below the limit imposed by the Ottawa Agreement; (4) that primage should be removed from, all duty-free imports from the United Kingdom; (5) that the duty should in all cases be charged on imported goods on their value converted into terms'of New Zealand currency;' (6) that more effective machinery was needed to counteract "dumping"; (7) that special safeguards were required to enablo local manufacturers to meet the conditions of Northern Hemisphere "end of season" jobbing; (8) that tho "Empire content" qualification for preference should be raised to at least 75 per cent.; and (9) that the existence of Now Zealand industries had had the effect of limiting the prices which could be charged for competing imports, so that, taking that factor into account, it was very doubtful whether the protective tariff had on balanco resulted in any increase in the cost of living or the costs of farm production. /Mr. Mander said that on the question whether it was better for the New Zealand-farmer to buy United Kingdom. or Dominion goods, it should be remembered that the averago New Zealander consumed thirty times as; much New, Zealand meat as the averago person in ; England, and sixteen times more dairy produce.' If, therefore,1 thcro were two men unemployed, one* in England and the other in New Zealand,- and one of them, could be given a job by buying a. certain article made either in England orl in the Dominion, then the relative consumption of New Zealand produce should be remembered. "POPULAR" CRITICISMS. Answering "popular",! criticisms of ; New Zealand industry, Mr. Mander said it might be true in certain instances that greater specialisation 1 would result. in more economical production, but only a thorough investigation by qualified persons could deter- [ mine it in any particular instance.- Certainly the, matter could not be settled by off-hand generalisation. As to the criticism .that New Zealand factories , were mostly too small, that too, might be true in certain cases, but tho smaller Dominion factory made, possible a much closer, more human, and more per- . sonal relationship between the manu- ', facturer and his workers. '. Mr. Mander referred to the, evidence which had beenv requiredof all New Zealand manufacturers, and said he believed the Commission would readily . agree that manufacturers individually, . and the New Zealand Manufacturers' ; Federation, had endeavoured to assist in every way. • ! In reply to questions, Mr. Mander, said that he wanted to show how thor- ! ough and searching had been the in- ; quirics made by the Commission, and ■ how the New Zealand manufacturers had welcomed the inquiries. Professor Murphy: You are also suggesting that we cannot make the same : searching and1 thorough examination of ; British production. Is that your point? • Mr. Mander: Undoubtedly. i Dr. Craig: Our investigations must necessarily be more exhaustive in rela- [ tiori to New Zealand industries than in ■ relation to British.industries. If there i had been no Ottawa-Agreement at.all '. we would have had to make exactly ; the same investigation of New Zeai land industries as we have done.