MOTOR PARTS

Evening Post, Volume CXXIX, Issue 15, 18 January 1940, Page 10

MOTOR PARTS

NEW REGULATIONS

MANUFACTURE LOCALLY

; Notice-was igiven in the Gazette published last, evening of regulations made under the.Customs Acts providing for the ..substitution" of certain parts produced in New Zealand, as specified from time.to time by the Minister of Customs, for parts ordinarily imported with unassembled motor vehicles into New Zealand without prejudicing the qualification. of the , vehicles to entry at preferential.tariff rates.

"The object of the regulations," said the Minister (the Hon. W. Nash), "is to allow. and encourage the use of parts made in New Zealand in lieu of parts 'imported with vehicles. It is the policy -of the Government to have , New Zealand materials and lab.our utilised to. a maximum in the completion of vehicles in the Dominion.

"Importers have represented, how-. ever, ,that they have been hindered in that regard, since the deletion of certain parts of the equipment of the vehicle would probably result in the proportion of Empire content included in the cost of the vehicle as exported to-New Zealand being reduced below the figure necessary to enable the vehicle to-qualify for admission at preferential tariff rates. The regulations should remove any difficulty in that regard.

"In the meantime it has been decided to allow the Empire content of unassembled vehicles entitled to be entered under item 389 (a) of the Customs Tariff to be determined as if the following parts had been imported therewith, notwithstanding that under the determinations made under Section 16 of the Customs' Acts Amendment Act, 1934, certain of v such parts cannot be imported: Upholstery materials (excluding upholstery materials of wool or articles made therefrom) cut to. shape and whether or not preliminarily sewn, electric batteries (accumulators), bumper bars, undercarriage springs, seat springs (including metal frames therefor).

"The regulations apply to vehicles imported from all Empire countries."