LOCAL INDUSTRIES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17144, 25 April 1919, Page 8

LOCAL INDUSTRIES.

AUCKLAND SITTINGS ENDED. W THE SADDLERY TRADE. f' PROTECTION ADVOCATED. :|j. The House of Representatives Industries Committee concluded sis sittings in Auckf land yesterday. The member: of the committee present were :—Messrs. 0. A. Wilkinson', chairman, Egmont; .las. Craigie, Timaru; J. T. M. Hornsby, Wairarapa ; R. P. lludton, Motueka; H., Poland, Ohinemuri; T. K. Sidey, Dun-j edin South. | J. W. Wiseman, representing the Auck-1 land saddlery, harney, and bag manufac-1 turers, askrd for an increase in the Cus- \ tm.s tariii on goods that could be mamiiar.tnred locally.' Protection equal to that given to Hie boot trade, and one which would enable them to pay the ever-increas-ing wages to employees, wan asked. j Anomalies in the tariff were quoted. If I certain goods not made in the Dominion, ! but dutiable nevertheless, were admitted free, the proposed addition on saddlery ' would compensate (or the loss in revenue on the first ciaes of goods. Such dutiable goods us bridle bi"-s, stirrups, awl spurts, rug linings and belt; buckles, the trade considered might be imported free. He also requested abolition of the duty on eerge used in stuffing saddle.'., as the local production was ict suitable. The retention • of tho embargo on hides was advocated, as it steadied She price of leather, and enabled the Dominion manufacturers to obtain their requirements. There was already a 20 per cent, protection on saddlery ana harniss goods, but thai was imposed when wages were lower. He suggested a SO per cent, protection. J. A. Graham, another representative of the saddlery trade, said tha* if the Japanese learned to make suitable goods 'hey would kill the local trade if it were not •protected. F. Wilkinson sought protection for tbo tool-handlemuking trade. Many of the ' manufactured handles were imported free oi duty A tariff of 20 to 25 per cent, j ■wis advocated. L. A. Walsh, of the New Zealand | Flying School. Kohimarama, asked that' > the Government, in developing its aviation schemes,, should support local manufacture, I The Kohimarama school, be said, had a fully.trained stuff of mechanics, who had built the framework of the machines now ' in use. These had flown over 100,000 miles: •without accident, and had been found in every way satisfactory. As the Govern- j ment would not be likely in pay duty on [ imported machines, private builders could • , not compete will,.ft State encouragement, i J. Majjiikuiks Steele. Auckland repre-1 scriUtivo oi lie New Zealand Peat Oils,! Ltd., asked that a subsidy on the oil pro- j dnepd be paid fay tile Government. The oil derived from "peat in gam swamps at i Kaimaumau had been used successfully in a coastal vessel. He suggested the subsidy recommended in a report furnished by'Mr.' J. W. Poynton, S.M., at the Government's request, namelv. Is a gallon for the first 10.000 gallons, 6d a gallon for the j next 10,000, and 3d a gal ion thereafter, j The members of the committee left for j Napier last evening.