TOOLS AND SUPPLIES

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2884, 23 September 1916, Page 12

TOOLS AND SUPPLIES

— *- IMPORTS FROM UNITED KINGDOM. Local firms do not expect to he embarrassed seriously by the' Imperial Government's prohibition of tho oxport of engineering tools and supplies from tho United Kingdom, except under license , from tho British Ministry of Munitions. o r^ers f° r supplies needed for the maintenance of the primary industries may be when certified by the Minister of Munitions and Supplies in New Zealand, and if this provision is interpreted broadly, as it probably will be, the importers will bo able to satisfy very many of their customers. Importations in tho linos affected have fallen off since tho outbreak of _ tho war, owing to the substantial increases in prices, and engineering firms are showing a tendency to postpone making additions to 'their plants. The now regulations, which affects all machine tools and supplies, may divert a.certain amount of trado to the United States. Normally the United Kingdom supplies two-thirds of the machine tools imported into Now Zeaand the. United States scarcely one-sixth. Germany had a small share of tho trado before the war, and was making some efforts to develop it, but Now Zealand engineers generally have a strong preference for tools of British manufacture. . Tho prohibition docs not affect carpenters' tools, in which American competition is already very strong, and certain classes .of rough tools, such as picks, shovels, and axes. About half the artificers' tools used in Now Zealand como from tho United States. Tho American axe is always in strong demand, apparently hocauso tho British manufacturer adheres to "oldfashioned patterns, which tho Now Zealand hushman views with disfavour, But it is noticeaWe that the British shovel_ has tended in recent years to push, its American competitor out of this market. A good shovol must have staying power, and tho British tool is built to last.