DUTY ON RADIO SETS.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 12750, 14 September 1934, Page 5

DUTY ON RADIO SETS.

SECOND EDITION

TARIFF TALK IN THE HOUSE. WHEAT AND FLOUR DUTIES. Electric Telegraph—Press Association WELLINGTON, Last Night. At the conclusion of the Budget debate this afternoon, the House proceeded to discuss further amendments to the Customs Resolutions, Hon J. G. Coates explaining that it was proposed to fix the rate of duty on foreign radio sets not mounted in cabinets at 35 per cent., and mounted at 45 per cent. He explained that, under the previous resolutiou, it w r ould not be possible for the New Zealand manufacture of sets, which, had now assumed big proportions, to carry on efficiently. The British tariff was not altered. It was. also proposed to exempt from duty United Kingdom china ware, of the following classes: Breakfast, dinner and tea sets and cups, saucers, plafes, dishes and similar articles for table use. All* Coates continued that it was necessary that the list of goods which would be admitted as unassembled or completely knocked-down motor vehicles should be published for general %ifoa*mati oil. It was considered in the initial stages that it would not bo advisable as a condition of admission of goods at a lower rate to insist upon the maximum amount of assembly work that could possibly be performed here. It was. therefore, necessary that authority should be conferred on the AI inis tor to determine from time to time goods which, might be entered as unassembled or completely knocked-down motor vehicles.

A number of other machinery amendments were made and the Resolutions were agreed to. DUTIES ON WHEAT. After the tea adjournment the committee stage of the Customs Act Amendment Bill was commenced. Air Al. J. Savage referred to wheat duties. He 1 thought the constitution of the Wheat Board should be altered and the grower given greater representation. He would like to see the Alinister taken contia] of the administration or see that the consumers’ interests were watched. Air H. S. S. Kyle said that had it not been for the Wheat Board, the industry would have been in a chaotic condition. It had enabled the growers to secure a price they would not have obtained otherwise. Mr R. AlcKean said the flour mills were overcapitalised and the price ot bread was kept too high. Air C. A. Wilkinson attacked the sliding scale of wheat and flour duties and said there were too many flour-mills. Hie unnecessary ones should bo closed. Air H. T. Armstrong supported the sliding scale of wheat duties. Air W. J. Poison urged the exemption of duty on steel pipes. He said there, was only one firm in New Zealand making pipe®. The duty of 20 per cent, on British pipes should be abolished to give British firms a chance of tendering for local body contracts. He considered that the protection should also be reduced from British confectionery.

ATr AY. Nash .‘aid the sliding scale was wrong in its incidence. Some steps should be taken to see that bread was sold at a minimum price, but they must see that the grower received a reasonable price for his work. PRICE OF BREAD. Mr H. G. Dickie contended there was too large a difference betwten the price the grower received for his wheat and the price of broad. Air AA . A. Veitcli supported the abolition of the sliding scale. and said his constituents were paying more for bread than the bread ’was worth. Air J. A. AlcPherson defended the sliding scale and said that bran and pollard were more important than all the flour industry. The dairy and pig industries were dependent on bran and pollard, and that showed the importance of the great industrv to New Zealand. Air T>. G. Sullivan said he was not particular in what way protection was given the grower, so long as the industry was safeguarded. Air AY. Downie Stewart mi id there was no more .important industry than wheat-growing. He thought the* wheat duty quite a reasonable one. ENTITLED TO PROTECTION. Rev. Clyde Carr said every country protected its wheat indust r> . A flat rate of duty would not give stability and protect the farmer Ali- P. AVebb regretted that a duty had not been placed on crude oil and oil-burning machinery and that nothing had been done to assist the coal-mining industry. He considered, too, that a tax should be placed on imported coal. Mr J. Connolly returned to the wheat duties and defended the sliding scale. He said it was quite unnecessary to import* Australian or Canadian wheat and flour if New Zealand wheat was proivcrly matured. Tlie short title was passed, progress was reported, and the House* rose at 11.30.