TARIFF PROPOSALS

Hokitika Guardian, 16 September 1927, Page 1

TARIFF PROPOSALS

VARIOUS CRITICS. AN APPRECIATION. WELLINGTON, Sept. 14 Mr Charles M. Bowden, president of the Wellington Chamber of Commence, speaking with regard to the tariff ’expressed his warm appreciation of tho underlying principle enunciated, namely to encourage still further trade in goods produced in the British -Empire. It was earnestly to he hoped that tho effect of the proposals would he to swing trade to Britain. It could not be (iverstre.ssed that our prosperity was greatly dependent on the state of trade in Britain.

“The further assistance granted to local industries is also a. move in tlie right direction,” he said. “It has often been stated that the prosperity of the Dominion is dependent on primary industries, but that is only a half truth, and it lis pleasing to set the growing recognition that the so-called primary and secondary industries are interdependent.

“While the remissions made will be welcome I nevertheless cannot see any justification for the. statement made when tlie income tax proposals were being considered that tlie increase in the income tax to tlie family marl would be largely offset by the remissions in the main are on articles which do not afflict him directly.” Mr IV. E. Hill, manager of General Motors, expressed himself ns well satisfied with the 5 per cent advantage granted over imported assembled motors. The firm employs 300 men at Pctone, and the capital is £500.000. “Wo are naturally pleased that the Government has recognised the importance of our contribution to the Dominion’s industrial welfare,” lie said.

“MERELY NIBBLED AT.” WELLINGTON, Sept. 14. That the interest of New Zealand manufacturers have not been sufficiently considered and that the question of assisting them lias merely been, nib-

bled at is tlie opinion of Mr Camphell, president of the 'Wellington Manufacturers’ Association. It was a good tariff for the British manufaicturer, he said. Wherever possible, a substantial increase had been given. Had tho same preference been given the New Zealand manufacturer, a. step forward in secondary industries would have been certain. TRADE COMMISSIONER PLEASED. WELLINGTON, Sept. 14. Tlie British Trade Commissioner, Mr Beale, said that ho regarded the revision of the. tariff as a sound revision. It was certainly in the best interests of the producers and consumers of the Dominion for the reasons that it reduced the duties on things used by all classes fn every home, it facilitated tho introduction of raw materials and machinery to be used in local industries, it enlarged the policy of British Empire preference, and contained important proposals for increasing the markets for Now Zealand products

overseas. If, as he hoped and believed, the changes meant greater trade in British goods to New Zealand, the result of flic enlarged (capacity of employment of workpeople at Home would surely be automatically reflected in the ability of tlie people of the United Kingdom to purchase more New Zealand produce. He thought that the tariff was a most able effort of the Government to adjust the conditions governing tlie economic position of New Zealand in that it increased regular employment. Factors entering into the cost of prodniction wore lowered in price. Many items in every day use were reduced, and practical partnership of Empire was expressed in the clearest terms. The prospects, too, of wider markets for New Zealand produce were greatly enhanced by the proposals outlined in tho appendix.

MR. WILFORD’S CRITICISM. WELLINGTON, Sept, 17. Ono of the first critics of the tai’iff proposals was Mr Wilford (Hutt) who considers that tho Government has missed a splendid opportunity to put tho growing industry of motor body building on its feet. He points out that in Australia which gives adequate protection to body building, ninety per cent of the bodies used on cars were made in tlie Commonwealth, though only ten per cent of cars in New Zealand have locally built bodies. If the Dominion followed the Aus-; tralion example some hundreds of thousands of pounds out of the three millions we pay America could be re-, tained for the employment of Now Zealanders if encouragement was given +n the importing of motor chassis Mr Wilford produlccd tho following telegram from a prominent motor body manufacturer at Christchurch, “Con- 1 gratulate you on your remarks re motor body builders. Tariff means ruination of industry. Dismissing majority of employees this week.” ASSISTING THE AMERICANS. :

Mr Vivian Grant, secretary of the Now Zealand Coach and Motor-body Builder’ Association, stated that the association had sought the admission free of British motor-car chassis, hut tiio Government had ignored the appeal altogether. “We asked for a 20 per cent instead of a 35 per icent tariff on foreign chassis, hut the Government in its wisdom has left the tariff at 35 per cent, thus affording no help to New Zealand industry,” he added. “There is no benefit to ns at all. Yet preference is given to knocked-down bodies for assembling in New Zealand. This is against the interests of established motor-body build ing concerns. British manufacturers are penalised because American stuff coming from Canada with 50 per (cent British manufacture in it can ho landed on the New Zealand market on the same duty as bodies from England. At the present time none of the English manufacturers is in a state in which he can ship unassembled bodies, therefore all the preference is (given on American stuff coming via Canada. The assembly work done in New Zealand is with unskilled labour and with foreign materials. There is not a particle of New Zealand material used.”

The opinion thet the new tariff was n serious blow to the English car manufaicturer was expressed by Mr R. J. .Tay, manager of Christchurch Motors, Ltd. Tho Government, ho said, was assisting the Americans topush rhe English motor manufacturing firms further off the commercial map. The traders in English cars were very disappointed at tho attitude of the Government in regard to tlie tariff.

INCREASED FIRM DtJTY. WILL IT HELP BRITAIN ? cinematograph films. WELLINGTON, Sept. 14. The proposed 200 per cent increaso in duty upon imported cinematograph films is not looked upon with favour by those whose job it is to provide moving pictures and entertainments for the public.

“Tf the Government intends to stimulate the production of British film they have gone the wrong way about it.” declared a representative of New Zealand Motion Pictures Exhibitors’ Association to a reporter. “By filnij, we assume, is meant in addition to finished picture undeveloped film for the purpose of making pictures. To make motion pictures ill New .Zealand one must import film, say, at least 10,800 feet to make GOT’" foot picture. The only reliable film which could he used is manufactured in either America or Germany, so there would he an increase m the cost of any picture made in New Zealand. Then again in the- case of the imported finished product, tho increased duty will not assist- British production. ihe contracts which exhibitors have with American distributing companies contain a clause which automatically passes on to the. exhibitor any increase in duty. The American film producers, therefore, will not pay the added duty. Now Zealand exhibitors v. ill and so will the public in the long run and there will not be the slightest effect on the American producer. British films are not there to tie bought so we must have American.”

\Yi i h reference to the importation of film in an undeveloped state for tho purpose of making pictures in Now Zealand, Mr Messenger snid that tho Government Publicity Department regularly imported 10,003 to 15,000 feet weekly. The proposed new duty would not affect tills, as the film was manufactured in Britain. It was essential to use the very best film available, the materia! being too expensive to waste. Gorman-made film had been tried, but it had not been found satisfactory. The makers of the film, an American firm, were putting up works nil over Europe ana elsewhere, and what- was imported by

the Department was made in works already established in England. DUNEDIN OBJECTIONS. DUNEDIN. Sept. 15. With the removal of all duty on stained 'glass, artists are badly hit. There is strong criticism of the Government’s neglect of a struggling industry, and the general effect of the tariff. One merchant stated: “The whole effect of the increase in foreign affairs is simply that English manufacturers wil put up their prices correspondingly. The Government is simply giving 5 per cent extra to British manufacturers, and it will be of no benefit to the public. Regarding the film duty, one picture manager stated that the present duty on a feature film of OOOOft amounted to £26. It would now have to pay £3l. “It only wants daylight saving to come on top of this and the picture business will be in a sorry wav.”