OVERHAUL OF TARIFFS

Hawera Star, Volume LIII, 16 June 1933, Page 6

OVERHAUL OF TARIFFS

FURTHER REDUCTIONS SOUGHT

ABOLITION IN SOME CASES,

EVIDENCE BEFORE COMMISSION

CBy Telegraph—Fresa Association .1

WELLINGTON, June 15. Evidence was submitted to the Tariff Commission to-day by Mr L. A. S. Reid on behalf of the Milner Safe Company, seeking aboi.lion of the duty on safes, steel furniture, steel rolling shutters, collapsible gates and similar goods. Mr Bar end Van Staveren, managing director of Van Staveren 1 Bros., sought an alleviation of the duty on various lines carried by the firm. Mr Cecil Bowater, warehouseman, asked for the free admission of Plapao pads. To Mr Pasco e he said lie felt that the medical profession would suppoic the application) but he eouli notdefiirtely. Mr Douglas Gordon Mcßobie, manag- r of Chipman, New Zealand) Ltd., asked that the duty on bulk. vaseline and petroleum jelly from foreign counbe reduced from 45 per cent, to 10 per cent, and that the present duty on packed petroleum jelly be allowed to remain. Witness said that if the duty on petroleum jelly, the sole agency of which was held by his firm, were reduced the company would be able to sell at such a low rate that price-cut-ting competitors who imported the packed article would be driven off the market. . . An application for the abolition ot the dutv on malt extract was made by Mr John Pearson, director of Potter and Birks (New' Zealand), Ltd, Mr Page said the duty was 20 per cent, or 2d a lb., whichever was the greater. He contended that the protection afforded the local manufacturer was too high high and unnecessary. On bulk malt extract the landing charges, with exchange, amounted to 121 per cenu., on malt extract in lib jars to 105 per cent., and on malt extract in 21b. jars to 110 per cent. With exchange at par the landing charges were 91 per cent, on bulk, 72 per cent, on lib. jars', and 7S per cent, on 21b. jars, and 78 per cent, on 2lb. jars. Mr Page maintained that the transportation charges over, 12,000 miles should afford sufficient protection to the local’ manufacturer. With exchange at par and duty free the landing charges would amount to 23| per cent, on bulk, 42 per cent. o.n lib. jars, and 40 per cent, on 21b. jars. The commission adjourned until tomorrow.