PROTEST AT INCREASED DUTY

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 20, 24 July 1934, Page 11

PROTEST AT INCREASED DUTY

• :.A request that-the 'present' duty on boots and. : shoes of 25 per cent, under the British preferential tariff should ' be: . retained ; and ':'. not reduced 'to> 20 ' per': cent. .< as' proposed by ; the.: Tariff .Commission, was made to .'the" Minister iof Customs; (the Rt. Hon. J. G..C6ates):.t>y a deputation representing ;the,manufacturefs of. boots, and shoes. .The Minister promised \to consider, the,'-representations. '~' Mr.. F. L. /Hutchison,, of Ghi-istchurch, said that it had been^ shown previously that the shoe iiidustry in New Zealand had never made excessive'profits' and tho> position was' very .similar ■ today. Overseas and: local competition- wpuld always prevent abnormal .profits or the over-sheltering of tho industry, by the tariff; , With others, the" industry was. negotiating the present, crisis and. had successfully surmounted the difficult economic conditions to date. In keeping with other industries the workers employed, who, with- their ■■ dependants totalled approximately 9000 persons, .had suffered great 'hardship owing to ,'tho prevailing conditions. Theiiidustry was linked up/with tlie?tanning industry, which produced a. ' quality of leather .eminently suitable for New Zca: land requirements. : The;, cost of the niaterinlto the "shoe manufacturer was £254(000, over and above which.he imported leather to*the value; of £126,000, together; with other, materials for use in connection with the manufacture of his product to the value of £110,000. Tho value of the article prpdueed was £1,000,000, the.-. wages- and salaries paid- amounted to £335,500, and additional' expenses other than .for wages and materials amounted to £115,000. If the present .protection was in any way reduced it would be a serious blow to the local nianufrictnver and would jeopardise tho £600,000 capital invested, in the industry. . The: average j price per pair of the New Zealand output, including . slippersj :was, for the year ended: March 31, 1932, Us IOJd per. pair. Mr. Hutchison referred to the advantages'of manufacturing footwear .in the Dominion, and said that it. should; be noted' that the use of i "New Zealand leather in . the industry | was steadily increasing. .: The industry was not seeking increased protection, but lie submitted, that the: duties at present operating against all countries were equitable and .'justified. . ' ■; Mr; Coates said that he would consider,'the representations.-, i:• ' '■ ' '