TARIFF COMMISSION

Grey River Argus, 17 June 1933, Page 4

TARIFF COMMISSION

Removal of Duties Sought ON ELECTRIC STOVES. (Pep Press Association). WELLINGTON, June 16. Harold Ernest Taylor, New Zealand manage/ of the British General Electric Coy., made representations on behalf of his own and several other firms Ho asked for a removal of the duty of 20 per cent, ad valoreuin on electric stoves from the United Kingdom. He contended, (1) that owing to the high ■ cost of packing and freight, the local . manufacturer was afforded ample pro- ! tection without duty; (2) that the) duty of 20 per cent, on stove s from United Kingdom with, corresponding dutv on foreign stoves, meant imposition on the money value out of pro portion .to the amount expended in the local manufacture of stoves; (3) that as his principals had gone to considerable* expense manufacturing f<>r New Zealand requirements, thev were entitled to a fair share of the market: (4) that the remission of duty on stoves would enable them to be sold more cheaply and thus stimu'ate sales. Replying to Mr Mander, Mr Taylor said that the main competition came not from Canada, but from Now Zea land manufacturers The application concerned stoves Mr Mander: The freight you consider the importer has to pay would be an adequate and natural protection for local manufacturers.’ What is the freight per stove? Mr Taylor: It depends on the stove. You can reckon it within the vicinity of £3. Mr Mander; You admit that, freight which the manufacturer, say in Christchurch would have to pay on stoves sc»nt to Auckland is quite an off.-et against natural protection. Air Taylor: to a certain extent, yes. Air Aubrey Schloss, Director of J I. Lennard, Ltd., asked that a duty of 25 per cent, ad valorem be imposed on glucose from foreign countries, in order to protect the British produce against dumping. AH materials used in the British product came from within the Empire. Britain could supply all the glucose required for Now Zealand. His firm, he sai 1, had had the assurance from their principals in England that if the duty were imposed on the foreign product. fh-’ir product would be kept a* as low a price as possible. MATCH INDUSTRY. WELLINGTON. Jun.,. 16. The match, industry occupied the attention of the Tariff Commission, this morning. Walton Alclay, director of Bryant and Alay and Beil and Co., asked lor the retention of the present duties. Foreign duties are double the British preferential tariff. Air McLay said thp chief competition comes from Sweden, Finland, Russia, Belgium and Japan. They, at present, were making wax matches but were installing machinary for wooden ones. They were receiving the co-operation of the Forestry Department in th e search for suitable timber and some trees had alcady been planted. New Zealand paper and glue were also to be used. It was their policy to use New Zea land material whereever possible. He submitted that the maintenance of thp ] resent tariff would, come within the Ottawa, agreement. Air F. AV. Cleavin. director of the New Zealand Wax Vesta Coy., also pressed for a continuance of the pre’ sent tariff.