THE TYRE INDUSTRY.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 190, 12 August 1931, Page 9

THE TYRE INDUSTRY.

Could be Made Success in New Zealand. MONOPOLY NOT ASKED FOR. That if the tyre manufacturing industry were established in New Zealand the venture would be successful, was the opinion expressed this morning by a business man interested in the proposal. He mentioned that the normal consumption of rubber in New Zealand was in excess of £2.000,000. That shduld provide scope for the establishment of several factories, not only for the manufacture of tyres, but also of a wide range of rubber goods. Those interested in the proposal had not asked for any monopoly. They were strongly opposed to that being given to any manufacturer of tyres or any other rubber goods. What had j been asked for was that the rights of | manufacture of tyres in New Zealand | should be reserved for those working on New Zealand capital. Otherwise, any New Zealand manufacturer who undertook to make tyres without some protection from foreign agression would be asking for trouble. The question of increased duty on British tyres had not been laboured. At present there was 10 per cent, ad valorem duty on British # tyres, and on foreign tyres there was a duty of 53 per cent on home consumption prices. It seemed reasonable that, if the Government were to stimulate New Zealand industries, British tyres should be subjected to increased duty. The Prime Minister, who had been approached, had stated that ho sympaj thised with the idea of establishing a j new industry. He also recognised that. if n local company were formed, it | might be crushed by an outside concern. Tt was the Government’s intention to set up a board to deal with pioblems of that nature, to advise on the teohn’cal and economic sides of the ouestion. Such a matter as the estabFshment of the tyre industry in New Zealand would be referred to the board. (A report cf a discussion in Parliament appears on Page 7.)