MANUFACTURE OF PAINTS

Taranaki Daily News, 13 July 1933, Page 7

MANUFACTURE OF PAINTS

NECESSITY FOR PROTECTION COMPARISON IN COSTS MADE. CASE BEFORE THE COMMISSION. By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, July 12. The joint case on behalf of the New Zealand paint and colour-making industries was presented to the Tariff Commission to-day. Mr. A. E. Mander, secretary of the New Zealand Manufacturers’ Federation, said that in a general way they were not asking for an increase in duties, but for certain minimums in some cases. They sought a re-classification of the present tariff with the duties submitted in the schedule, The industry had grown up in New Zealand under a very moderate degree of protection, and, taking into account the relative costs, especially of wages, of Britain and New Zealand, it would be impossible for the New Zealand industry to continue if the present degree of protection was reduced. The value of plant was £152,233, and the output last year was valued at £156,969.

Wages paid were 50 per cent, higher than in Britain, where female workers were employed in the grinding mills. This was forbidden in New Zealand. It was submitted that the New Zealand industry did not at present enjoy that measure of protection stipulated in the Ottawa agreement. The industry was well organised and efficient. They did not ask for any increase in protective duty under the principles of the Ottawa agreement, but only for the imposition of a specific minimum in two instances in order to prevent the New Zealand market being flooded by a low-grade imported product