DAYLIGHT REFLECTORS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21995, 3 July 1933, Page 10

DAYLIGHT REFLECTORS

SOLD AT EXCESSIVE PRICE MANUFACTURERS CRITICISED (Special to Daily Times.) WELLINGTON, July 1. The assertion that the price charged for a reflector which, it was claimed, reproduced the characteristics of daylight, was excessive was made by members of the Tariff Commission to-day when an application was made for a reduction of the duty on these articles. Mr W. Hike, managing director of George H. Scales Pacific, Ltd., applied for the abolition of the duty of 20 per cent, on daylight reflectors, which are special shades fitted over electric light bulbs. He said it was claimed that they reproduced the characteristics of daylight artificially and were of immense benefit to all those who had to work under electric light as they relieved the strain on the eyes.

On producing a sample reflector he was asked by Professor Murphy what price the New Zealand consumer would have to pay for the article, and he replied 29s fid.

Professor Murphy: That seems to me excessive.

Mr Luke said that the reflector cost 14s fid in England, and with duty, exchange, and landing charges there was only a nominal profit on the New Zealand sales.

Professor Murphy said that he was not inferring that the New Zealand agents were charging an excessive price, but the price in England was excessive, and seemed to include the goodwill and the patent. Mr Lnke said that was so. If the duty were reduced the price to the New Zealand consumer would be less, and the benefit would naturally bo greater. Professor Murphy: What is it made of?

.Mr Luke: Aluminium, I think. I could not he sure.

Professor Murphy: It is a bit of metal painted. I have no sympathy with you in the price you are charging. Mr G. A. Pascoe examined the reflector, and said that he thought it was made of some alloy. Professor Murphy: The cost of production on a large scale would be no more than 2s Qd.

Mr Luke':: I suppose so. Mr Pascoe: I think Professor Murphy is moderate in his estimate of the cost.

Professor Murphy: Yes. The cost would only be a few pence. Mr Luke: If the duty were reduced we would be able to sell i* more cheaply, Mr Pascoe: You cannot got away from the fact that it is the patent that is being paid for. Mr Luke said that it had taken years of scientific research to obtain the result given by the reflector. Professor Murphy: Yes, there is a fortune awaiting' anyone who can make artificial daylight. Mr Pascoe: Here is the fortune. Mr J. B. Gow: It is paying for a doctor’s prescription. Mr Luke said his firm had endeavoured to bring the cost down. The reflecter was being used widely by both the Government and private businesses. They were trying to get the costs down as much as possible. The reflector had been installed in Buckingham Palace and was used by his Majesty the King. Professor Murphy: Do you, think that is a guarantee that the jirice is not excessive ? Mr Luke: It is a guarantee that the article is a good one. ; Mr Gow: Could it be manufactured in New Zealand? Mr Luke: No. We have not the patent out here. Professor Murphy: The firm you represent talks about improving the public health ? Mr Luke: Yes. Professor Murphy: Don’t you think it could bring about a greater improvement by bringing down the price? Mr Luke: We are trying to bring the price down. Professor Murphy: They talk a lot of palaver about conferring a benefit on the community, but they are really conferring a benefit on themselves. It is an article that might stand some revenue duty. Mr Luke: I don’t think the price is exorbitant when freight, exchange, duty, and landing costs’are taken into consideration.

Professor Murphy: I am not saying that yonr firm is charging an excessive price; it is the English price I am referring to. An amateur mechanic, he added, could duplicate with ease the model they had before them. Mr Luke: It would bo an infringement of the patent. Professor Murphy: I am npt talking about the patent. If this sort of article was sold at a moderate price it would have a much wider sale and the turnover would repay them, I think the policy of the principals is grasping and short-sighted.