CLAY INDUSTRIES

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 106, 1 November 1933, Page 13

CLAY INDUSTRIES

DUTIES ON IMPORTS

FURTHER REQUESTS

Several cases . connected with the clay industries, both in New Zealand •and in the: United Kingdom, were presented to the Tariff Commission today. Mr. H. Lowen, representing the National Federation of Clay Industries, England, lodged an objection to an application .made earlier in the , sittings asking for a ■ duty of 20 per cent. ■on imported silica bricks. It Was contended that the high transport packing and insurance charges which must be' borne by United Kingdom silica bricks, exported to New Zealand in themselves afforded ample and full protection for the NewZealand industry. ' ; Mr. Lowcn said that an application on behalf of the federation had been lodged with the Commission for,the re-, moval of the protective duties on firebricks imported from the United Kingdom, but at that time it was not felt necessary to refer to, silica bricks as it was not anticipated there would be any change from the present position whereby United Kingdom silica bricks enjoyed entry into New Zealand free of duty. ' Silica bricks, Mr. Lowen said, being more fragile than firebricks, , were packed in boxes to minimise damage in transit. The heavy transport and packing charges entailed an addition to the United Kingdom works price of no less than 170 per cent. Considered in relation to tho c.i.f. price, ■ New Zealand port, the transport and packing' charges amounted approximately to 63 per cent, of that price, The recent deflation in the value of the New Zealand pound in terms of sterling afforded the New Zealand producer a substantial additional protection. This protection the federation considered to be the equivalent of approximately 25 per cent of. the c.i.f. price. LOCAL MANUFACTURERS. On behalf of McSkiniming and Son, Ltd., Otago, a request was made' for the retention ~pf the existing duties on sanitary .ware, flower spills, and crematorium urns. .It was stated.that the adjacent deposits of clay and coal were important factors towards, the success of the -company's undertaking at Benliar, Otago. Even, with the present protection the company was working on too small a margin, and any reduction in duty would make manufacture unprofitable. Another point in •favour of a retention of, the duty was that there were abundant supplies of excellent clays of every description in the Dominion, the use of which would be long delayed if help was not given to the clay-working industry. Further, the presence of a local pottery industry acted as a, check on any tendency to inflate prices. , Representing the Luke Adams Pottery Works, Christchureh, Mr. H. E. Adams asked for the maintenance of the present British preferential and general duties of 20 per cent, and 4o per cent, respectively on earthenware, crockery, and flower pots, and that jugs for use with electric elements should ,be specifically included in the particular tariff items. He claimed that the protection now given was necessary to enable the company to compete successfully with overseas manufacturers, and, ■ further, that the protection was insufficient fully to compensate for the higher costs of efficient and economical production in New Zealand as compared wtfh Me United-Kingdom." Mr. Adams also asked for the. reclassificatidn 'of- clement- supports, made o± refractory material for electric heating appliances, which were admitted, tree at present, under tho tariff interpretation He urged that the duties be:— British, preferential, 20 per cent.; general, 45■ percent. . .