PREFERENTIAL DUTY

Taranaki Daily News, 6 August 1930, Page 3

PREFERENTIAL DUTY

HOODS FROM OVERSEAS.

THE QUALIFYING STANDARD. A readjustment of the conditions of manufacture qualifying imported goods for the British preferential duty la to be urged on all members of Parliament by the Auckland Manufacturers’ Asso- ■ ciation. This course was decided on at a meeting of the general committva when the tariff changes were under discussion. The secretary of the association, Mr. J. Findlay, said the three objects of the amendments to the tariff had been served in the order mentioned by the Prime Minister, namely, increased revenue, British preference and assistance to the Dominion’s secondary industries. In regard to preference, Mr. Findlay suggested that the time was ripe to repeat a previous request that in order to qualify for preference goods should be 75 per cent. British, instead of 50 per cent. He said that the Hon. W. Dpwaie Stewart, when Minister of Customs, had agreed to . this, but on hia return to Wellington pressure of some kind hadevidently been brought to bear, and the proportions were left unchanged, Mr. J. A. C. Allum said that to anyone acquainted with the conditions the present position was ridiculous. When the tariff was used for the purpose of insisting on the ’people using British goods it was only fair that provision should be made for them to be given genuine British goods. If the same assistance were given to New Zealand manufactures as to British our position would be very much stronger. He moved that representations should be made to all members of Parliament to the effect that, in view of the great preference given to goods of British manufacture, the standard of qualification should be 75 per cent.- of British materials ar.d workmanship. The president, Mr. G. Finn, said it was _ important that all parts of the British Empire should be on the same basis in regard to the tariff. While in Wellington recently he had discussed the mutter with the Controller of Customs, Mr. G. Craig,, who would be leaving soon to visit Canada and Great Britain. On his return more information would be available. It might be suggested to the Minister that the matter .should be kept in view, to be dealt with on Mr. Craig’s return. - Mr, Allum’s suggestion to circularise all members of Parliament wap adopted. A further suggestion- by Mr. Allum that all raw materials not also lie product of New Zealand should, be ad? mitted free of duty was referred to a special committee. It was pointed out , that British manufacturers, whose t products entered into competition in New Zealand with locally-made goods, were allowed to import their raw materials free of duty.