LOCAL MANUFACTURE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21518, 15 June 1933, Page 15

LOCAL MANUFACTURE

Sir. —Tn the Herald of Wednesday you publish an address given by Mr. Goodfellow to the New Zealand Farmers' Union in Hamilton in which he attacks tariff protection for local industries. He particularly mentions the paper industrj- iu New Zealand, and quotes figures which are supposed to prove that the wholesale price of wrapping in New Zealand is nearly double that of the c.i.f. price of the Scandinavian article. While his c.i.f. price is approximately correct, he evidently convenientlj* overlooks the fact that due to the farming industry's agitation an exchange rate of 25 per cent is in force, and this makes the landed cost at least £32 17s 3d. The price he quotes is that for second-grade wrapping, the local wholesale selling price of which is £36 Is 6d per ton net. While it is desirable that every aspect of the tariff question should be discussed, it is regrettable that a business man of Mr. Goodfellow's standing should quote misleading figures, which it is charitable to presume he is not personally conversant with. It is even more regrettable that he should do so during the sitting of a commission inquiry into tariff matters. Paper.