THE DUTY ON BICYCLES

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2176, 4 September 1907, Page 1

THE DUTY ON BICYCLES

[To the Editor.]

Sir, —Your sub-leader in this morning s “Times” devoted to my reply to your previous statements on the above subject calls for a few further remarks from me. To charge mo .with want of frankness towards your leaders is unfair. If there is anything your patrons require to know that may bo in my power to impart regarding this particular matter, 1 shall be glad to impart it. 1 am glad to read that you agree with me that tlio majority of cycles at present imported into New Zealand do not bear a duty of anything like £2 per machine —in fact, the greatest .number comprise 13.5. Aor clioapor ipattern cycles. Theso are the machines that the cyole trade are desirous of having '.fitted and built together in New Zealand, and a duty of £2 per machine would surely accomplish this purpose. Your contradiction of my assertion that no increase in price of locally built cycles would be necessary oven were the duty increased to £2 per machine, and stating that such a statement ■was too ridiculous to refute, is, to mv mind, only pardonable because of your complete ignorance of the matter you ar 0 writing about. I have pleasure in .enclosing a letter signed by the principal cycle dealers of Gisborne, from which my statement is backed up that oven should a duty of £2 bo, placed upon such cycles as can he built in New Zealand, no increase will be made on the present selling price to the public. I had no intention of studiously avoiding the fact that no cycle building could be carried out in its entirety in New Zealand, no one ever expected such a possibility, hut at least we can assemble and finish off thousands of bicycles per annum that are at present being imported. As regards the year-book stating that only’ 395 mechanics were employed in New Zealand cycle shops, all I can siy is that my firm obtained 400 signatures to the petition got up in favor of the. duty, and then many towns were not canvassed, and such firms as J. B. Clarkson, Adams Star, ■lnglis Bros., Scott Motor and Cycle Co., E. Reynolds and Co., and others who are largely interested in various English cycle agencies, and therefore antagonistic to our local building industry, naturally declined to sign, and the hands employed hv these firms* must run into large numbers. I would conclude this .discussion by informing you that recently the duty on cycles landing in Australia has been increased to £o per cycle, and .the Bulletin, in its last issue, draws' attention to the fact that despite this' large increase Messrs Bennett and YVood, Ltd., of Sydney, the largest importers and manufacturers in Australia, advertise that no increase would be made in the price of locally-built cycles under the new tariff. —I am, etc. , A. WHITE PARSONS.

(ENCLOSURE.) We, tile undersigned members of tlie cycle trade established in Gisborne, hereby undertake that in tlio event of the duty on imported built cycles being increased to £2 per machine, not to advance our selling prices to the public on any cycles that can bo fitted and finished in New Zealand- —such as B.S.A. patterns ,or similar parts, beyond that at present ruling in Gisborne. —Yours faithfully, The Barlow Cycle Manufacturing Co., per Win. J. Barlow; H. Anderson, Gladstone road; VS . Roland, for J. Roland and Son, Gladstone road; Herbert. F. Gush, Peel Street. Gisborne, 3rd Sept. [The public of Gisborne will doubtless entertain the keenest gratitude towards us for having exacted a promise from local cycle dealers that in the event of the duty on cycles being raised they will not increase the prices of locally assembled cycles. U Mr. White-Parsons can succeed in binding over the remainder of the cycle dealers in New Zealand to a similar undertaking, secured by legal bonds and penalties, he will have a much better chance of inducing the Minister of Customs to agree to the proposal that in future every imported cycle shall pay a direct tax ot £2 Failing such an undertaking the public may well be excused for beieving with us that cycle dealeis generally will in tlie future, as in the past, charge just as much for thenwares as tlie' tariff will permit them to obtain.— Ed. Times.]