DOMINION-MADE FURNITURE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 18 August 1933, Page 5

DOMINION-MADE FURNITURE

CONTINUED PROTECTION SOUGHT

APPLICATION TO TARIFF COMMISSION (By Telegraph—Press Association) AUCKLAND, 16th August. Continued protection for the New Zealand furniture industry was sought before the Tariff Commission by the Furniture Traders’ Industrial Federation. The present duties are 25 per cent. British and 50 per cent, on foreign furniture in general; 25 per cent, on hardware and hollow ware used in furni-ture-making; and 25 per cent, on Australian metal bedsteads and cots.

The federation’s statement, which was submitted by Mr W. M. Dawn and Mr F. Furnell, said that furniture making was an industry proper to New Zealand, and one entitled to protection against cheaper labour and mass production overseas. New Zealand materials -were predominantly used. It was estimated that New Zealand labour accounted for 40 per cent, of the cost of tho finished article, disregarding the labour employed in cutting and transporting logs to the mill or engaged in related industries. The industry in the United Knigdom paid about is 4d an hour to journeymen, compared with Is lid paid in New Zealand. It had the advantage of mass production methods and immense supplies of extremely cheap Russian timber. There had been no importations of any volume from Britain hitherto; but if the tariff were much reduced the British manufacturers would be able to place their surplus upon the New Zealand market at very low rates indeed.