TARIFF COMMISSION

Hokitika Guardian, 26 September 1933, Page 4

TARIFF COMMISSION

FURTHER EVIDENCE. I Per Prts* Amn'ciution — Uopynght.} CHRISTCHURCH, September 25. .belore tub Utn.f Lonimissky today, Norman John Suckling gave evidence on behalf of Robert .Malcolm, Ltd., respecting cotton goods, butroas, eiVistics, haberdashery, wearing a;ward, - 'ana general drapery. He u.skocl tb'at the tariff' for wearing apparel of British lmuiufactiire should be 27-} per cent., hosiery 27} per cent, and cotton and slice laces 20 per cent, tie risked that the general tariff on elastics should be 50 per cent., and on wearing apparel 55 per cent. He asked that British cotton piece goods should remain on the free list. British buttons were already free, and he asked for a duty of 50 per cent on Japanese buttons, and Italian buttons. Witness said that elastic was duty free. On hosiery he asked that the British duty be 20 ,per cent., and that the general duty he 45 per cent. Shoe laces, he urged, should be free from Britain, and that 100 per cent of a general tariff be imposed. He said British goods met heavy competition from J-apan in all cotton fabrics. For carpets ‘ and rugs, the witness asked that the present duties of 25 per cent .British and 50 per cent general be reduced to British 20 jper cent in part 15 per cent in part; and general 45 per cent., and 40 ,per cent respectively. Mr George Henry Holford, representing the Imperial Chemicals Industries, said that- sulphate of ammonia was at present duty free from all sources. He asked for now rates, to be- British free, general 15 per cpnt. He said such a duty would not increase the price to farmers, but would stop sporadic foreign pricecutting, chiefly- from Japan. Ernest AV. lteid (secretary), and Francis AV. J. Belton (engineer), of Christchurch Gas Company, spoke of | the duties on ammonia, one of the ! by-products-oT gas manufacture. The present rates were: British, free; general, 4d per lb; Australia, free. They asked that the rates be: British, 20 per cent.; Australian, 30 per cent.; American and Continental, 50 per cent.

Mr AA 7 . J. Belton said his company had for some time, considered the manufacturing of benzol, but , had.not> considered; it a commercial possibility if benzol had to pay. the same taxation as octroi under the /present conditions. AVith complete exemption from tax. the proposition would, he. just worth while to the company.