NEW ZEALAND SHIPBUILDING.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 146000, 5 December 1917, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND SHIPBUILDING.

A MISSTATEMENT CORRECTED. PUB PRESS ASSOCIATION. WELLINGTON, Dec. 4. At the coiference of tlie Association of New Zealand Chambers of Commerce recently, the following remit was adopted- “That in the next amending tariff Bill provision be made for the removal of the disabilities imposed on New Zealand shipbuilders under the existing regulations, as compared with those of the Australian tariff.” It was pointed out that on a ship built in Now Zealand being transferred to the Australian register a duty of 2o per cent has to be paid to the Australian Government, but a ship built in Australia coming into New Zealand is admitted free. Further, if the engines and boilers of a steamer- built in New Zealand have to he imported a duty of 23i per cent, has to bo paid on them, whereas in the case of a boat built in Sydney the engines and boilers are admitted free, if it is shown to tho customs authorities there that the shin is being built for export. The Minister of Customs states that the position respecting locally built ships is not correctly stated. The impression was given that the engines and boilers for'shins built in Now Zealand arc on a different footing, from those tor shins built in Australia, where, it is stated, engines and boilers are free if it is shown that tho ship is being built for export. The case is exactly the same in New Zealand. a drawback of the duty is obtained on engines built into vessels constructed for foreign trade.