MAKE THE AND KEEP THE TRADE

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 51, 24 November 1919, Page 3

MAKE THE AND KEEP THE TRADE

SIR A. GBDDES'S liEPLY TO MANUFACTURERS. Sir Auckland recently refused to grant the request of an influential deputation from tho commercial motor and 'a - <ie- i tor trade for the extension of the 33 1-1! per rent, import duly on nr'.valo cars tu their brnnch of the indiis'ry. Tho deputation urged that the duty should remain in force until the. end of 1!H1, ami that there should be a limitation in tho number of commercial motor vehicles inmortcd into this country before tho end of "i 900. Seasons given by Sir Auckland for refusal of the request for a temporary tariff were: There is at prwnt an effective protection ngainst the U.S. equivalent lo a 4o per cent, ad valorem duty, owing to the cost 6f freight, packing, transport, inBiirance, and the rates o!' eschariji , . Tho Government feels that it is lmncccssary tu add a higher protection. There is no room ro doubt thai, as clioivn by the very liitfli prices of old Army vehicles, tlie ,dcHa*ud cannot ho met.

One of the greatest difficulties of Retting our railway traffic running smoothly is the absence of transport to clear the stations. There is an enormous demand for commercial vehicles. There, is a much larger dumnnd than British manufacturers can Himilv.

It is also necessary to get prices lower. From tho Government's experience in the sales of Army lorries it in obvious that prices are too high.

Explaining the rep.sons for n.ll import duty on private motor-caw, Sir Auckland incidentally pointed 01:1. that a privato motor-car was a luxury, whoroas comniercinl vehicles wor-3 a necessity. Ho also added that with thn .13 nor cent, duty on private motor-cars the amount of protection afforded to tho trade, taking into ncM-uT.t freights, packing, and the tale of eschange, was as niueli as SS per cent.