OVERHAUL OF TARIFFS

Hawera Star, Volume LIII, 13 June 1933, Page 5

OVERHAUL OF TARIFFS

FARMERS’ UNION QUERIES

MANUFACTURERS’ PROFIT'S.

(By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, June 12. * The examination of Air. A. ®. Hander, secretary of the New Zealand Manufacturers’ Association, by Captain Col beck, representing the Fanners’ Union, occupied most of the ’time ‘of the Tariff Commission to-day.

Mr. Munder denied that manufacturers were selling at excessive profits. He suggested preference should be confined to goods which were 100 per cent. Empire produced. Captain Colbeck asked whether if protection were removed New Zealand might support a population of 1,000,000. “Were you in earnest when you made that statement?” he asked Mr. Mander. Mr. Mander: I was on oath. You insult me when you say that I was net in earnest. 1 was on oath.

Captain Colbeck: i suggest that protection increases the cost of production.

Mr Mander: I do not admit that. Answering a further question, Mr. Mander said that, quality for quality, New Zealand goods were cheaper than British. He agreed that if the cost of living fell 25 per cent, wages could be reduced by that amount without loss to the worker, hut he denied that m such a case manufactured goods could be reduced by like amounts, as other costs had to be con side red.In the afternoon the Commission heard representations by Mr, W. M. Paterson, a director of Adams Bruce Ltd. Mr. Paterson asked for a reduction in the duty on unsweetened chocolate, which, he claimed, was in reality raw material. He contended. that the rate should be about half of that imposed on the finished product. At present unsweetened chocolate carried the same rate, of duty as ordinary confectionery. Mr. Andrew Fletcher, director of the Blet her Construction Company, asked for the imposition of a duty on electrically weided fabric, on the ground that it interfered with New Zealand labour. . . . . ... ... - The commission adjourned until tomorrow.