TARIFF DUTIES

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 1 September 1926, Page 3

TARIFF DUTIES

INCREASES MADE

MOTOR VEHICLES AND TIMBER

RESOLUTIONS OF THE HOUSE

(by TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION.) WELLINGTON, Aug. 31. Wheou the House of Representatives met at 7.30 u.m., the Minister _ of Finance moved 1 that the House go into committee of ways and l means ■ to consider ceitain 'amendments to the Customs tariff. He said it: was. impossible to make a complete revision of the tariff this year, 'but there were some items in connection with the tariff upon which some alteration had been asked for, and the resolutions he was bringing before the House were intended to meet these eases. r lhe Minister did not propose to introduce ai .Bill at once to -give effect to these duties, as he desired to give members time to consider whether these duties should or should not lie imposed. I There was, he thought, a general im-, pression that there had been an overimportation of motor care into New Zealand, especially American ears. The alteration's to the’ tariff were in the interests of the New Zealand, body builders* whose trade had been languishing of late, but no special duty was l being charged on bodies of commercial vehicles, as most of these were made in New Zealand, and it was thpught that they were sufficiently protected by the existing duties 1 . The' Minister warned members against being stampeded by or against the opposition to the proposed duties on cars, as he understood that such propaganda was in the course of preparation and would soon he evident. With regard to timbers, the Minister said he had come to the same conclusion as had been arrived at by the Parliamentary Committee, and he now proposed to impose on imported timbers' 1 duties similar to those, now imposed on other rough sawn timbers such as cedar, oak, mahogany and ash. not used for furniture. These duties would have: to suffice until such time as there was an opportunity to . go thoroughly into the whole . question. •He would he glad to explain further details of the proposals when the Bill came down, which would pi’obaibly bo on Friday. Sir Joseph Ward asked 'whether these 'amendments opened up the •whole question of. Customs tariff. If so he would move a great many •amendments to assist our secondary ■industreis. He did not like to see spasmodic amendments to the Customs tariff; they were not good! except in special circumstances. He feared a general dislocation of trade and! that people who made contracts months •ahead would l be involved 1 in heavy loss/ •He did not like to see the House misled 1 by the Minister with regard! to timber. He felt that this amendment was no relief. Next year it. would he found that the timber position would be more acute than ever. Mr G. W. Forbes (Hummui) said the •amendment would not, he feared, assist unemployment in the timber industry, and this he regretted. Mr J. McCombs (Lyttelton) declared that there were larger and more important industries than body building requiring protection. The Minister, would have done better had lie given protection to the boot industry. Mr H. T. Armstrong (Christchurch East) said far greater relief could have been given to the timber industry by reducing royalty charges rather than by increasing the duty. Relief could 'also be given by’ reduced' shipping freights and; reduced railway rates. If the Minister would protect the public against exploitation be was prepared to increase the duties. •Mr A. Harris (Waitemat-a) said no matter what duty was part on Oregon timber it would still he imported!, because it was so popular with builders that they would use it. The only effect- of the increased duty, then, would be to increase the price of building. Mr T. E. Y. Seddon (Westland) expressed his disappointment at the proposals so far as the timber industry •was concerned. Mr R, W. Smith (Waimnrinp) asked what had become of the Government

slogan, “Trade within the Empire,” if this small duty of 2s per 100 feet was the best the Government could do to help the timber industry. Mr W. H. Field (Otakr) sard) the duties imposed were a miserable recompense to the call for protection put up hiv the sawmillers. The Hoff. Downie Stewart, replying to the charge that the new duties were a miserable recompense to the appeal of the sawmillers, said a. committee of the House had inquired into the question and had made their recommendations. Was the Government to go over the heads of that committee and tell them' their labour was of no value whatever? The Government had done the best it could pending a complete revision of the tariff next year. He read to the House the text of a circular which he stated had been sent round to the motor dealers in. New Zealand for the purpose of organising opposition to the new duties in' view of the amendment of the tariff. The resolution was then agreed to and the House, on resuming, adopted them. The resolutions make the following tariff amendments’ applicable to goods imported' or cleared’ ex-warehouse after August 31 1 : Motor vehicles, fixed body, duties abolished: basis, ad valorem rates. Motor vehicles are now British preferential 10 per cent,‘general tariff iAI nor cent. When, vehicles imported having pas;•senger carrying bodies an additional body duty is payable as follow®: British preferential tariff 10 per cent no to £2OO dutiable value and 5 per cent on any remainder: general tariff, IS per cent up to £2OO dutiable value and 7-J- per cent on any remainder. The expression “dutiable value” means the current domestic value plus 10 ; per cent. The body duty is calculated on the value of the complete vehicle'. Special, provision is made l for body duty when bodies are imported separately and also when vehicles are imported without a. portion of the usual equioment. Wlt'H regard to rough sawn 1 timber the following kinds, with certain' specified exceptions, are now dutiable 9s per 100 superficial feet: Bceehwood. cedar, oak. mahogany and walnut.