RAINPROOF CLOTHING

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22325, 27 July 1934, Page 15

RAINPROOF CLOTHING

REDUCTION OF THE DUTY REPRESENTATIONS TO MINISTER. • (Special to: Daily Times.) ... WELLINGTON, July-'20.. A request that The duty, on. rainproof clothing should be fixed at 25 per . cent,, ns recommended by the Tariff Commission, made by;a deputation of New Zealand manufacturers' which, waited upon the Minister, of Customs (Mr J. G. Coates) to-day. the duty was formerly 27. per cent., .. ■ Mr A;. E. Mander, (secretary of the New Zealand Manufacturers’- Federation) said that the'; three firms most interested were Messrs Harris, Lorigton, Ltd. (Auckland), Messrs Bratnall and Co. (Wellington), and: Messrs Ross and ; Glendining, Ltd. (Dunedin). Tq-day92 workers were employed in making waterproof, coats, but if the duty’were maintained at 25 per cent, a : further 95 employees at least would be required' within the nest -six months,'as large'derelopments were pending, nTOie time the Customs resolutions were .brought-'down, ' Those, plans for ex--tension were now iri • suspense. They would’not he practicable if the duty were lowered Mess than: -25 per cent., -as' the firms in confidential evidence would show. It would be impossible,-for them to carry on. at all if the duty were lower than 25 per cent. Ifthe duty were ' only, 20 per ; c'enCfit'Would pay those firms to import the 1 ready-made garments rather than import ; the material and make - the - garments here. * . Confidential on the cost of making (raincoats in New Zealand ’was given by Mr E. A. Heath, :of Auckland, who displayed samples of materials and coats. ’ -, ' ( ■' In answer to,Mr Coates, Mr Heath said he had', not,.given evidence before, the Tariff Commission; ((" v' Upon Mr GostesV-suggestiori Mr Heath agreed to interview the departmeptal officers and lay his evidence before them.