WHERE THE SHOE PINCHES.

Evening Star, Issue 12764, 17 March 1906, Page 12

WHERE THE SHOE PINCHES.

At a recent meeting of the Federal iTariff Commission. Mr F. T. Wimble,' the -printing ink manufacturer and jof Sydney, said: ; ":We are unable to successfully compete with importers of the black ; ink which is used for printing the daily , newspapers, owing to 6d per gallon being I imposed on rosin oil, one of tie,principal; ingredients of news black ink, which, according to the market value of oil, ranges from 45 to 80 per cent, ad valorem. Agents representing foreign Ink manufacturers are also allowed concessions by special discounts. I have been shown an invoice by a newspaper proprietor which quoted 10 per "cent, discount and 5 per cent, deduction as a special export rate towards the cost of duty and freight charges. The price atwhich many bulk lines' of printing inks are sold by importers make me certain the goods are brought into the Commonwealth and passed at much lower rates than their true values. To assist local manufacturers I suggest that a duty of 55 to 40 per cent, ad valorem be imposed on all printing inks other than news ink, and on newspaper ink a duty of 25 per cent., as now charged; but to protect local manufacturers I would advocate that the weight of packages should not be less than 3cwt; inks imported in less than 3cwt packages to be

sharged an additional duty of 15 per cent.-,! rhe duty on rosin oil should be reduced from 6d per gallon ,to 15 per cent, ad,valorem." l ' . I Rp. Fowler: Are we to. understand that { all the Australian dailies, including the' great Protectionist organ, use imported; inks?— Yes; all of them. _ '- .. Witness, continuing, said .that in respect to rotter composition the present antjr'of 20 per cent, ad -valorem should hj& made a fixed duty of 6d per lb. The duty of _2O per cent, on electrotypes was useless." There , should be a duty of lQd per square inch, on all electrotype and' stereotype blocks, j with, a minimum of Is per blocks . |