RAINPROOF COATS

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 23, 27 July 1934, Page 16

RAINPROOF COATS

DUTY ASKED FOR

A request that the duty on rainproof clothing be fixed at 25 per cent., instead of 20 per cent, as recommended by tha Tarifi Commission was made to the Hiaister of Customs by a deputation o£ Xew Zealand manufacturers yesterday afternoon. • The duty was formerly 27 per "cent. Mr. A. E. Mander, secretary of the New Zealand Manufacturers' Federation, said "that the three firms most interested were Harris, Longton, Ltd. (Auckland), Bramall.and Co. (Wellington), and Ross and Glendining, Ltd. (Dunedin). Today, 92 workers were employed in making waterproof coats, but if the duty were maia« taincd at 25 per cent, a further 95 employees at least would be required withia the nest six months, as large developments were pending at the time the Customs resolutions were brought down. Those plans for extension were now in suspense.. They, would not, be practicable if the duty were lowered to less than 25 per cent., as the Grins in confidential evidence would show. It would be impossible for then} to carry on at all if the duty were lower than 25 per cent. If the duty were only 20 per cent, it would pay those firms to import the ready-made garments rather thin im-. port the material and make the garments here. v ■ • .. In answer to the Minister of Customs. Mr. E. A. Heath, Auckland, said he had, not given evidence before the Tariff Commission. ■ Upon Mr. Coates's suggestion, Mr. Heath agreed to interview departmental officers and lay his evidence before them.