BRITISH TARIFF

Hokitika Guardian, 5 February 1929, Page 5

BRITISH TARIFF

(United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright). (Received this day at 10 a.m.) LONDON, February 4. Atkinson said they asked for duty upon light materials between two and eleven ounces. He produced figures showing 102 firms had closed down since 1018. Skilled operatives in woollen and worsted industries had decreased by 23,390 in six years and three thousand out of those remaining were liiieinpoyed. Under 40 per cent of Bradford looms worked full time and 37 per cent were quite idle. “The essential fact is this industry is full of the misery of unemployment and constant and continuous depros. sion.” The proportion of the imports to manufactures in 1917 was one to eighteen and was now about four to eighteen. The ratio of exports to imports in 1913 was about six to one ami in 1923 was only four to three. He proposed to produce twenty-eight samples of cloth and show that foreigners were offering them twontv-two to forty per cent below the lowest possible British price. The mainrlacturittg cost of British cloth comprised: raw material 33 per cent, wages 33 per cent, and overhead charges 14 polecat. Comparative figures for foreign manufacturers were, 33. 13, and 8 respectively. Applicants desired a duty covering at least this 23 per cent difference. The hearing was adjourned. The National Textile Workers Union supported the application.