BRITISH INDUSTRY

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 16869, 5 February 1929, Page 7

BRITISH INDUSTRY

SAFEGUARDING DUTIES WOOL TRADE'S APPLICATION STRONG CASK MADE OUT (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Ajkii.J (Australian Press Asm.—United fcw'rv.'eo.) (Received Feb. ;"., 11. a.m.) LONDON, Feb. -1. The application I'or a safeguarding duty for wool foxliles opened today before Ihe Board of Trade committee. Mr. Cyril Atkinson, counsel for the applicants, said they represented the worsted industry, but every branch of the wool, worsted, and textile industry supported the application. Mr. A. ('. ( omyns Carr appeared for a group of British manufacturers and merchants. He said he intended to call evidence to show that no British .industry of .any .importance made similar goods to those imported.

Mr. Atkinson remarked that he understood the opponents of a duty included only one worsted manufacturer; the remainder were merchants. Mr. Comyjis Carr replied that this was quite wrong. / .. .Ms,- Atkinson- saM-Continental-spun worsteds were imported into Britain as woollens, ami'Competed with light' weight British worsteds. lie said they asked for a duty upon light materials between 2oz .and 11 oz. He produced figures showing that 102 firms had closed down since 1918, skilled operatives in woollen and worsted' industries bad decreased by 25,790 in six years, and 33,000 out of those remaining were unemployed. Under 40 per cent, of Bradford looms worked full time, and 37 per cent. were quite idle.

"An essential fact," lie said, "is thai this industry is full of the misery of unemployment and constant and continuous depression." The proportion of imports to manufactures in l!»17 was one to 18; now it was about four to 18. The ratio of exports to imports in 1913 was about six to one, and in 1027 was only four to three. He proposed to produce 28 samples of cloth and show that foreigners were offering them 22 to 40 per cent, below the lowest possible British price. The manufacturing cost of British cloth comprised: Raw material, 53 per cent.; wages, 33 per cent.; and overhead charges, 14 per cent. Comparative figures for foreign manufacturers were 53 per cent., 10 per cent., and 8 per cent, respectively. The applicants desired a duty* covering at least this 23 per cent, difference. The hearing was adjourned. The National Textile Workers' Union supported the application. POLICY SUPPORTED FEEE TRADE OUT OF DATE (Australian. Pivss Assn.—United Service.) LONDON, Feb. 4. In a leader in reference to the joint application by the employers and the employees for the imposition of a safeguarding duty on dress goods, the Daily Mail recalls thai the unions were hostile fo any measure for safeguarding a year ago. The- fact that the workers 1 were no longer ready to stand still, and look on murmuring out-of-date, frov. trade shibboleths while the vital industries decayed, was a most hopeful sign for our future. The imports of woollen fabrics had increased 300 per cent, since 1921. Seven thousand British looms were out of action, and 25,000 textile, workers had abandoned the industry. if all imported fabrics were manufactured in Britain thousands of artisans would be employed, tho consumption of coal would be largely increased, and the prosperity of the textile industry would help to relieve others in carrying the almost intolerable tax burden. The industries that wore already safeguarded greatly benefited. ' The motor car industry had reduced prices .and increased exports 50 per cent. The tyre industry was building, not only new factories, but new villages under the stimulus of duties.

The Federation of British Industries, reviewing the last quarter of 11)28, notes an appreciably bigger output, in the basic industries. Steel increased 199,000 tons, new shipbuilding was the highest, since 1921, export manufactures were 8 per cent, over 1924, one of the best post-war years.