TARIFF COMMISSION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22084, 14 October 1933, Page 12

TARIFF COMMISSION

FIREARMS AND CARTRIDGES REVISION OF DUTY REQUESTED. (Per United Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, October 13. The Customs Tariff Commission concluded the hearing of evidence here today and will leave foY Wellington on Monday evening. Mr A. N. Turner, director of Messrs 1 urner and Le Brun, sports goods dealers, asked for a revision of the tariff on cartridges and firearpjs. Referring to shot-gun cartridges he said the present protective duties were unfair Because the Colonial Ammunition Company could make only 12-gauge cartridges. He asked for a reduction of the duty on gauges other than 12. He also asked for reduced duties on cartridge cases which it was practically impossible to import at present owing to the duty. He also asked for a reduction of the duties on ball cartridges, saying that the New Zealand Company made only .303 cartridges, which could be placed in a separate category. He also suggested lower duties on foreign rifles, as Britain did not produce many of the popular sizes of sporting rifle. Mr E. J. Bell, chairman of the executive of the Federated Master Painters’ Association, asked that the duty on white lead in oil should be abolished as there was little possibility of this product being prepared in New Zealand. The present duty protected a handful of persons to the' disadvantage of an overwhelmingly larger group. Mr Arthur Eoroyd asked for the maintenance of Hie present duties on honey.