Pipes For All Oil Companies Said To Be Free Of Duty

Wanganui Chronicle, 10 November 1949, Page 5

Pipes For All Oil Companies Said To Be Free Of Duty

WELLINGTON, Last Night (P.A.) —Discussion at yesterday's meeting of the Wellington City and Suburban Water Board referring to the freedom from duty for petroleum piping while steel piping for the Hutt River water supply would cost £lBO,OOO in taxation was the subject of the following statement today by the managing director of the British Petroleum Company of New Zealand, Ltd., Mr. R. W. Turner: “The position in regard to importation of pipes on my company’s .account is: Pipes imported by the oil industry are manufactured to a definite specification and are admitted to New Zealand duty free under item 352 of the New Zealand Customs Tariff. This does not apply only to the British Petroleum Company of New Zealand, but to the oil industry in general and also to the major pipe line importers. The Press statement infers that preferential treatment has been given to my company, which statement is contrary to fact. The British Petroleum Company of New Zealand has at all times and on all material imported paid duty strictly in accordance with the collector of custom's schedule and tariff requirements.” Mr. Turner said that the New Zealand Government had a financial interest in the British Petroleum Company of New Zealand but it did not control its administration.