PREFERENCE FOR BRITAIN

Taranaki Daily News, 23 August 1930, Page 7

PREFERENCE FOR BRITAIN

BRITISH MANUFACTURERS’ PLEA. ALLEGED EVASION BY AMERICA. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Aug. 21. A plea for further preference to British manufacturers, especially in regard to motor-cars, was made to Mr, G. W. Forbes to-day by a deputation representing British and United Kingdom Manufacturers’ Association of New Zealand. It was claimed that the preference triven to Canada was working out unfavourably against Great Britain, in that many American makes of cars were receiving the benefits of the Canadian preference under the Act. Fortynine per cent, of the vehicles exported, from Canada might be the product of U.S.A. It might be a surprise to the Premier to know that out of 27 cars bearing American names and trade marks only about five were paying the American rate of duty, which Parliament provided and expected they would have to pay from 1926 onward. It was also pointed out that American parts re-exported from Canada did not pay duty to Canada, being bonded and the duty repaid on their shipment from . Canada. The same conditions applied to tyres and cars. The loss of revenue to New Zealand owing to this system of evasion of the American tariff was very heavy. ' Mr. Forbes said it was his intention when in England to "go into the proportion of British labour used in the production of British manufactures. The question of preference given to Canadian goods was at present receiving the consideration of the Government. The increase of the butter duties from a halfpenny to twopence was not quite fair and New Zealand was entitled to ’review the question of Canadian" preference. He would consider ' the 'tepreUntations of the deputation.