CUSTOMS DUTIES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21520, 17 June 1933, Page 13

CUSTOMS DUTIES

making of matches XJASE FOR LOCAL FACTORIES BRITISH ELECTRIC STOVES FREEDOM OF ENTRY URGED [by telegraph —press association] WELLINGTON, Friday Tho match industry occupied the attention of the Tariff Commission when it resumed to-day. Representatives of two companies operating in New Zealand gave evidence. Dr. G. Craig, Comptroller of Customs, presided. Walton McLav, director of Bryant nnd May, Bell and Company, Limited, asked for a retention of tho present , duties. The foreign duty in all cases is double the British preferential tariff. Witness said tho chief competition came from Sweden, Finland, Russia, Belgium and Japan. They were at present making wax matches only, but were installing machinery for the manufacture of wooden matches. They were receiving the co-operation of tho Forestry Department in the search for suitable timber and somo trees had already been planted. New Zealand paper and glue would also be used and it was their policy to use New Zealand materials wherever possible. In the Dominion money wages were 35 per cent higher than in Great Britain. Ho submitted/that the maintenance of the present tariff would come within the Ottawa agreement. Removal of Duty Sought Frederick William Cleavin, director of tho New Zealand Wax Vesta Company, also pressed for the continuance of the present tariff „ . , narold Ernest laylor, New Zealand manager of British General Electric Company, made representations on behalf of his own and several other firms. He asked for the removal of the duty of 20/ per cent ad valorem on electric stoves from the United Kingdom. He contended (I) that owing to the cost of packing and freight, the local manufacturer was afforded amplo protection without duty; (2) that the dutv ol 20 per cent on stoves from theTnited Kingdom, with a correspondduty on foreign stoves, meant an imposition in money value out of proportion to the amount expended m the local manufacture of stoves; (3) that as his principals had gone to a considerable expense in manufacturing for New Zealand requirements, they were entitled to a fair share of the market; (4) that a remission of the duty on stoves would enable them to be sold more cheaply and thus stimulate sales. Replving to Mr. A. E. Mander, secretary " of* the Manufacturers' Federasaid the main competition came not from Canada, but from New Zealand manufacturers. His application, concerned stoves only. Freight Within Dominion Mr. Mander: The freight you consider the importer has to pay_ would be a:n adequate natural protection for the local manufacturer ? What is the freight per stove? Mr. Taylor: It depends on the stove, but vou can reckon in the vicinity of £3. Mr. Mander: You admit that the freight that a manufacturer, say, in ChrTstchurch would have to pay on stoves sent to Auckland is an offset against natural protection? Mr/ Taylor: To a certain extent, yes. Aubrey Sehloss, director of J. L. Lennard, Limited,- asked that a duty of ~o per cent ad valorem be imposed on glucose from foreign countries in order to protect the British product against dumping. All the materials used in the British product came from within the Empire. Britain could supply all tho glucose required in New Zealand. His firm, he said, had an assurance from the principals in England that if a duty were imposed on the foreign product, their products would be kept at as low a price as possible. EXPRESSION OF OPINIONS TIME NOT THOUGHT OPPORTUNE The view that it was not opportune at present to comment on the statements of Mr. W. Goodfellow regarding the tariff relations of Great. Britain and New Zealand was expressed yesterdav bv Mr. J. A. C. Allum, president "of "the Auckland Manufacturers' Association. He said it was no time to express opinions on the subject, as the Tariff Commission, a judici.il body, was at present taking evidence with the purpose of arriving at the facts of the position and making recommendations accordingly. Mr. Allum said that anyone with representations should place them before the commission itself while it was in the process of gathering information. —