TARIFF COMMISSION

Wairarapa Daily Times, 27 September 1933, Page 6

TARIFF COMMISSION

BISCUIT WORKERS. QUESTION OF WAGES. CHRISTCHURCH, Tuesday. The first evidence before the Customs Tariff Commission to-day related to meat meals and tinned meats. Mr C. G. Wilkin, secretary of the North and South Island Freezing Companies’ Associations, asked that the present duties on animal foods, British 20 per cent, Australian 20 per cent, and foreign 40 per cent, should be maintained. He said that the manufacture of these products in the Dominion Avas a recent development, but plants Avere adequate to cope Avith the demands. He also asked that the present duties on tinned meats, meat extracts and meat pastes should be ' retained. He said that the maintenance of the production of canning, 'as an adjunct to the freezing industry, Avas necessary in the interests of farmers. Mr L. R. Stevens, director of 11. F. Stevens, Ltd., Avholesale druggists, discussing flavouring essences, asked for a reduction of the excise duty of 20s per proof gallon to 12s per proof gallon on alcohol. If this Avere done he Avould not oppose a corresponding reduction in Customs duties, iioav 40s per gallon. He said that the high excise duty on spirit compelled manufacturers to make synthetic flaAmurs instead of natural flavours. He made a similar request in respect to perfumed spirits. Mr James Purtcll, secretary to the NeAv-Zealand Biscuit and Confectionery Workers’ Federation, said that the manufacturers had asked for the retention of present tariffs. He claimed that the purpose of the tariff A\ r as to protect the Avorkers in the industry, as well as the manufacturers, but, since the last aAvard had expired, the workers had been unable to secure a neAv aAvard unless they Avere prepared to agree to a 43 per cent reduction in Avages and an increase in hours from 45 to 48 weekly. Professor Murphy: What inference do you want the commission to draw from this statement? The Avitness: I make this deliberate statement: That if the employers Avill not agree to anything better than they have submitted, they are not entitled to any protection at all. Messrs Dudley Venna Wilson and Henry Burrows Duckworth, for Duckworth, Turner and Company, boot manufacturers, asked that the present protection on leather and felt slippers be maintained, saying that if the duties were not reduced the industry would continue and progress. They would ask, hoAvever, for adequate protection against Japanese competition, AA'hich Avas increasing.—(P.A.)