DUTY ON WHITE LEAD

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 53, 31 August 1934, Page 8

DUTY ON WHITE LEAD

(To the Editor.)

Sir, —Having been entrusted with the presentation to the Tariff Kevision Commission of the case for duty reduction on white lead in oil by the British White Load Convention, my principals and I were naturally pleased with the result of the Commission's exhaustive investigations into this industry' in New Zealand.' It is as under;—

"Representations wore made.to tho Commission by United Kingdom and New Zealand manufacturers with respect to the duty on white lead in oil. This material is prepared in New Zealand' from imported dry white lead. Prom the evidence produced we find that the added manufacturing cost in tho Dominion is relatively small. White lead in oil is the base from which j)aints for use on wooden houses and other structures are prepared-and should, in our opinion, be available at the lowest possible cost. We are of the opinion that this industry is not suited to New Zealand conditions, and that tho goods should be admitted free of duty under tho British preferential tariff." ■ ;

This very decided, and highly qualified, opinion was endorsed by tho Government on July 10 in the Customs resolutions—white lead in oil was to be free from November .1, 1934. On August 21—first reading of Customs Bill—we were told that "for reasons apart from the tarifi* the original duty of £6 per ton will operate for two years, instead of until November .1, 1934." Surely the public, is entitled to know the nature of these last-min-ute "reasons" which* have influenced the Government., iAs matters now stand, the man in the street can. only

see that the Commission's opinion has been flouted, and the cost of white lead in New Zealand will be subject to a duty of £6 per ton for two years ut least.—l am, etc.,

SYDNEY C. HANCOCK.