TARIFF ON FURNITURE

Taranaki Daily News, 17 August 1933, Page 5

TARIFF ON FURNITURE

PLEA MADE FOR PROTECTION.

INDUSTRY IN NEW ZEALAND.

By Telegraph—Press Association. Auckland, Last Night.

Continued protection for the New Zealand furniture industry was. sought before the Tariff Commission by the Furniture Traders’ Industrial Federation. The present duties are 25 per cent. British and 50 per cent, foreign on furniture in general, 25 per cent. British and 45 per cent foreign on hardware and hollow ware used in furniture making, and 25 per cent, on Australian metal bedsteads and cots.

The Federation’s statement, which was submitted by Messrs W. M. Dawn and F. Fumell, set forth that furniture making was an industry proper to New Zealand and one entitled to protection against cheaper labour and mass production overseas. New Zealand materials were predominantly used. It was estimated that New Zealand labour accounted for 40 per cent, of the cost of the finished article, disregarding the labour employed in cutting and transporting logs to the mill or engaged in related industries. The industry in the United Kingdom paid about Is 4d an hour to journeymen as compared with Is lid paid in New Zealand. It had the advantage of mass production methods and immense supplies of extremely cheap Russian timber. There had been no importations of any volume from Britain hitherto, but if the tariff were reduced British manufacturers would be able to place their surplus upon the New Zealand market at very low rates indeed.