New Tariff Assailed

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 151, 16 September 1927, Page 9

New Tariff Assailed

Deluge of Protests Sets In Motor-Body Industry Leads Way (THE SUN’S Parliamentary Reporter) WELLINTON, Thursday. ONE of the first industries to complain of the alteration in tariff was motor-body building, from which a deluge of protests has reached the hands of the Minister of Customs. Investigations are being made into the position, but Mr. Stewart is not prepared to make a statement at present as to what the attitude of the Government will be when the Tariff Bill is brought down.

rjpHE Minister assured the House today, however, that there would be ample time between the present and the arrival of the Customs Amendment Bill to have every phase of the situation looked into. Mr. T. M. Wilford, member for Hutt, asked if the Minister could afford any comfort to the motor body building industry, which was much upset at the effect of the new tariff. Telegrams he had received, and similar missives were in the hands of other members, indicated that this would mean the ruination of the industry, and the dismissal of the majority of the employees

this week. Mr. Stewart said he had received a large number of communications from the trade, which appeared to be fairly equally divided, half agreeing that the Government’s policy was the correct one, and the remainder disapproving altogether. Experts were investigating, but until the amending bill appeared, no statement could be made. It was to be remembered that when an alteration in duty occurred in Canada years ago, the whole of the motor-body builders closed down, but they were all open again within two or three days. He did not infer that a similar state of things would follow here, however. “BLOW TO INDUSTRY” UNEMPLOYMENT ASPECT Press Association. WELLINGTON, Thursday. Dissatisfaction at the revised tariff as it affects motor-body builders was expressed to-day by Mr. B. Oldfield, president of the Wellington MotorBody Builders Association. The remission of 5 per cent, duty on unassembled cars was, in his opinion, a great blow to the industry, and no help to British manufacturers who did not go in for building cars for assembling elsewhere, but merely benefited foreign manufacturers. It would accentuate the unemploy ment problem. The most serious aspect, in his opinion, is the loss resulting to those who have invested capital in buildings, plant and machinery. “PUBLIC WILL PAY” INCREASED DUTY ON FILMS ENGLISH SUPPLY TOO SMALL Press Association. WELLINGTON, Thursday. It was stated to-day by Mr. Robertson, of Film Supplies, that the increased tax on films would undoubt edly be paid by the New Zealand public and not by the American producers or their agents. England did not produce nearly sufficient feature films- to keep even one New Zealand theatre going with

a regular weekly supply, he said, and i did not produce short comedies, and as all the English news films came to New Zealand already, he could not see how the tax would benefit the English manufacturers. The tax might even narrow the area of choice of film. He mentioned that each week, half the population of New Zealand attend j the pictures. He emphasised the fact that the tax was not on the entertain- ; ment value, but solely on so much a ! foot of film. The entertainment value j of one picture might be £2,000 and I that of another picture of equal length | only £2OO, yet both would pay the • same duty. PEA-CANNING INDUSTRY ANOTHER TARIFF ANOMALY MORE PROTECTION REQUIRED extra protection is gained to the vegetable-tin-ning industry, particularly peacanning, one of the chief factories in New Zealand has expressed its intention of closing down, after the present contracts are fulfilled. That is the contention of Messrs. Irvine and Stevenson Co.. Ltd., of Auckland. It is pointed out that £20,000 has been sunk in the peacanning business, and the new tariff, in spite of frequent requisitions, gives no assistance to this newly-established industry. It appears that the Canadian tinned-pea. can be landed in the ! Dominion at Is 6d per dozen less than I the cost of local product. The labour point of view was also to be considered, there being a great many men and girls employed in the factory in the pea season. In the opinion of the manager of this firm this lack of protection is most unfortunate for the employees and growers concerned. BOOT TRADE’S FEAR COMPLAINT FROM DUNEDIN Press Association. DUNEDIN, Today. The Otago boot manufacturers have decided to forward a telegram to their executive in Wellington, asking it to use its influence to get the Government to reconsider tariff changes affecting boots and shoes, and to issue the following statement: “At present, in spite of the big overseas and local rise in the price of leather caused by the world-wide increase in the price of hides, the majority of manufacturers are carrying on at the old prices in order to keep plants and employees gong. “Trade is in a very precarious state both from a financial and trading point of view. Since 1924 the trade has been faced with a continued rise in wages, in spile of which it is possible to buy New Zealand-made shoes cheaper at present than for years past.” MAIZE-GROWERS PROTEST REDUCTION OF DUTY (From Our Own Correspondent.) OPOTIKI, To-day. The proposed reduction in duty on imported maize is considered to be a serious menace to the maiz€;-gxow-ing industry of New Zealand. The following telegram was dispatched to the Hon. K. S. Williams, member for Bay of Plenty, yesterdav, by the secretary of the Opotiki Chamber of Commerce: Maize-growers of this district s ronglv protest against the proposed reduction of the maize tariff. The proposal, if carried, will mean a serious loss to farmers, and will probably result in growing being abandoned. * Hope you will do your utmost to oppose alteration of the present tariff. ARTISTS BADLY HIT CRITICISM OF GOVERNMENT Press Association. DUNEDIN, To-day. With the removal of all duty on stained glass, artists are badly hit. There is strong criticism c-f Government neglect of a struggling Industry, i On the general effect of the tariff, one j merchant stated: “The whole effect of the increase in foreign tari:ls i 3 simply that English manufacturers will ' put up their prices accordingly The ! Government is simply giving .3 per ! cent, extra to British manufacturers, and it will be no benefit to the public.” TARIFF AND DAYLIGHT-SAVING DUNEDIN, Thursday. One picture manager stated that the present duty on feature films amounted to £27 on 6,000 feet. He would now have to pay £Bl. "It only- wants daylight saving to come on top of this,” lie said, “and the picture business will be in a sorry way.”