IMPORTED BUTTER BOXES

Hokitika Guardian, 27 August 1930, Page 8

IMPORTED BUTTER BOXES

LOCAL INDUSTRY STIFLED

DUNEDIN, August 25. That; the timber . industry of New Zealand is having to fight for its very existence at the present, time, and that-the tariff imppsed by the Government on foreign timbers, particularly American, Ims betpi long overdue is widely, recognised, but what percentage .of the public is aware of the fact that New Zealand dairy companies are able to import butter boxes and cheese: crates .from., other' parts o<f the world and yet escape the., paying of a duty ? At .the present time, there are sufficient bundles,of reacly-cut timber lying in ,the, goods::'"shed. at. Victoria wharf here to make up about 2000, cheese crates for one of our local factories. These crates were landed by the Golden Coast, an American subsidised steamer, an drepresent timbers grown in California. They are all branded .ready, for use, one of the inscriptions being “New Zealand Dairy Produce.”

When the, matter was referred to the manager df a . local dairy factory, a reporter,; was informed vthat price was the guiding, factor in the whole business. In. the case of butter boxes local factories found that they could save a considerable .sum by the importation of the foreign -product, and that the duty intended -to protect New Zealand goods was refunded to the companies when the boxes and crates. were filled with butter and cheese and exported. So far as quality was concerned, the New Zealand white pine box could not be. equalled, and it was pointed out •thqt Australian dairy producers were now placing large orders for this timber.

“We have been fighting very hard to impress upon the Government the necessity for a, tariff on importer! butter boxes and cheese crates, but because the fanners of this country continue to persist in their selfish attitude, the, Government will do nothing to, assist us,” declared a representative of the, timber industry. “It is absolutely, absurd to think that New Zealand .butter and cheese is exported in,foreign boxes and crates.”