NEW MOTOR TARIFF

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LII, Issue 17130, 4 September 1926, Page 16

NEW MOTOR TARIFF

HELPING BRITISH MAKERS

HILL PASSES SECOND READING (Per Press Association.! WELLINGTON, lust nighl. Tlio Him. Dowuii> Slowurl moved tlu' second reading of the Customs Amendment Bill. He said thai so far us motor cars were concerned, the effect of the duties would be. Hint the cheaper car.-., which comprise ,'!7 per cent, of the importations, would pay a less duty than under the old duties. It had been said that the new duties would detrimentally affect British cars, but lie had been told, only that day, that importers of American cars were looking for British agencies, il had also been said that Americans would simply bring their assembly works to New Zealand, and so evade the duties, but, if this were done, it would mean that a considerable amount of labor would have to be employed, and that would be to the good. Ho had also been told that British firms would, to save the freight, bring their parts to New Zealand, assemble them here, and have the bodies made by New Zealand body builders, which would all be to the good so far as labor was concerned.' That at least had been the experience in Australia. It had been said thai the new duties would result in an increase of reve-im to the extent of £400,000 per air.uini. but that was pure speculation, because no one could say what the revenue would be. At all events the new duties were not being proposed for \f\vu\w purposes, but for the purpose of lamenting the importers and users of i.ijilish motor cars as well as local body builders.

Mr. I). G. Sullivan said there was no doubt, that the local motor business was being hard hit by motor importations. He knew of one firm which, during the past year, had paid off about two-thirds of its employees, and was now employing only about thirty men and these on short time. . lie favored any policy which would in- ( rease our technical development, and if we could encourage the building ol motor cars in .New Zealand we should do so. Therefore, he was with the Minister in the niiposilii II of these duties. He hoped steps would be taken to prevent the duties on timber from increasing the cost of building. That was a difficult problem to solve, but ho felt sure the House would assist the Minister iu solving if.