TARIFF DUES

Southland Times, Issue 22043, 16 June 1933, Page 7

TARIFF DUES

INQUIRY CONTINUED ' FURTHER EVIDENCE TAKEN VASELINE AND PETROLEUM JELLY (Per United Press Association.) Wellington, June 15. Evidence was submitted to the Tariff Commission to-day by Mr L. A. S. Reid on behalf of the Milne Safe Co. seeking the abolition of the duty on safes, steel furniture, steel rolling shutters, collapsible gates, etc. Mr Barend Van Staveren, managing director of Van Staveren Bros., sought alleviations of duty on various lines carried by his firm. Mr Cecil Bowater, warehouseman, asked free admission of plapao pads. To Mr Pascoe he said he felt the medical profession would support the application, but he could not say definitely. Mr Douglas Gordon Mcßobie, manager of Chipman New Zealand, Ltd., asked that the duty on bulk vaseline and petroleum jelly from foreign countries be reduced from 45 per cent, to 10 per cent, and that the present duty on packed petroleum jelly be allowed to remain.

Witness said that if the duty on bulk petroleum jelly, the sole agency of which was held by his firm, were reduced, the company would be able to sell at such a low rate that price cutting competitors who imported the packed article would be driven off the market.

An application for the abolition of the duty on malt extract was made by Mr John Pearson Page, director of Potter and Bird New Zealand, Ltd. Mr Page said the duty was 20 per cent, or 2d per lb whichever was the greater. He contended that the protection afforded the local manufacturer was too high and quite unnecessary. On bulk malt extract, the landing charges with the exchange amounted to 121 percent. ; on malt extract in lib jars to 105 per cent., and on malt extract in 21b jars to 110 per cent. With the exchange at par, the landing charges were 91 per cent, on bulk, 72 per cent, on lib jars and 78 per cent, on 21b jars. Mr Page maintained that transportation charges alone over 12,000 miles should afford sufficient protection to the local manufacturer. With the exchange at par and duty free, the landing charges would amount to 231 per cent, on bulk, 42 per cent, on lib jars and 40 per cent, on 21b jars.

The commission adjourned until tomorrow.