TARIFF REVISION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21981, 16 June 1933, Page 11

TARIFF REVISION

EVIDENCE BEFORE COMMISSION (Pee United Peess Association.) WELLINGTON, June 15. Evidence was submitted to the Tariff Commission to-day by Mr L. A. S. Reid, on behalf of the Milner Safe Company, seeking the abolition of the duty on safes, steel furniture, st,eel rolling shutters, collapsible gates, etc. Mr Barend van Stavercn, managing director of van Staveren Bros., sought alleviation of the duty on various lines carried by the firm. Mr Cecil Bo water, warehouseman, asked free admission of plapao pads. To Mr Pascoc, he said he thought the medical profession would support the application, but he could not say definitely. Mr Douglas Gordon M’Robie, manager of Chipman (New Zealand), Ltd., asked that the duty on bulk vaseline and petroleum jelly from foreign countries be reduced from 45 per cent, to 10 per cent., and that the present duty on packed petroleum jelly be allowed to remain. Witness said if the duty on bulk petroleum jelly, the sole agency of which was held by his firm, were reduced his company would be able to sell at such a low rate that price-cutting competitois who imported the packed article would be driven off the market.

An application for the abolition of the duty on malt extract was made by Mr John Pearson Page, 'a director of Messrs Potter and Birks (New Zealand), Ltd. Mr Page said that the duty was 20 per cent, or 2d per lb, whichever was the greater. He contended that the protection afforded the local manufacturer was too high and was quite unnecessary On bulk malt extract the lauding charges with exchange amounted to 121 per cent., on malt extract in 11b jars to 105 per cent., and on malt extract in 21b jars to 110 per cent. With the exchange rate at par the landing charges were 91 per cent, on bulk, 72 per cent, on lib jars, and 78 per cent, on 21b jars. Mr Pagfe maintained that the transportation charges alone over 12,000 miles should afford sufficient protection to the local manufacturer. With the exchange at par and duty free the landing charges would amount to 23J per cent, on bulk, 42 per cent, on 11b jars, and 40 per cent, on 21b jars.

The commission adjourned until tomorrow.