Tariff Changes to Aid Industry

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 169, 7 October 1927, Page 13

Tariff Changes to Aid Industry

GRADING PRINCIPLES PREFERENCE AND PROTECTION (THE SUN’S Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, To-day. TITHE guiding principles in the •■-framing or the tariff adjustments are set out In an explanatory statement which the Hion. W. Downie Stewart submitted to the House of Representatives with the Customs Amendment Bill. The following table indicates tho changes which it is proposed to make in all save unimportant items: Goods on wincn it is proposed to abolish the duties under the British preferential tariff, or to reduce or abolish the duties under the general tariff:— Cattle. Horses. Macaroni, vermicelli, spaghetti (from July 1. 1928). Blanched almonds or nuts. Drugs and chemicals for culture media; indicators for chemical analysis or scientific investigation. Preparations made from animal glands or tissues. Appliances to correct a deformity of the human body. Cotton, raw. Cotton and other waste, engineers'. Certain linoleum and floorcloth; certain mats and rugs (from July 1, 1928). Textile piece goods of cotton, linen, silk, imitation silk, marked for cutting: up, also plain tablecloth, tablenapkins, towels, quilts, sheets and similar articles (from July 1, 1928). Tubular woven cotton cloth for meat wraps; cheese bandages or caps. Boot, shoe and slipper heels, of rubber. Reptile skins. Hot water bags and hot water bottles from July 1, 1925). Milk or cream distribution bottles or jars; syphon bottles for aerated waters. Sheets, slates, and tiles, of cement and asbestos (from July 1, 1928). Bowls, cups, saucers, dishes, etc., suited for table use (from July 1, 1928). Granite or other stone in the rough, or rough sawn, not dressed. Antiques and works of art at least 100 years old. Clocks for timing flights of pigeons. Great organs and similar organs. Strings of metal wire for musical instruments. Metal labels with names of trees, plants, etc., stamped thereon. Cash registering machines; adding and computing machines, etc. Electric locomotives. Bill-hooks, bush-hooks, slashers, and hedge-knives. Japanned and lacquered metalware. Corrugated sheet iron (from July 1, 1925). Bead pipe for making sulphuric acid. Oars, and sculls, spoon-bladed. Poles of hardwood for power transmission lines. Cork, cut. Stained glass windows. Goods on which it is proposed to increase the rates of duty to assist New Zealand industries:— Wheat. Wheat flour. Confectionery. ,Lemons. Blackberry, loganberry and raspberry plants. Rose trees. E&g pulp. Anhydrous ammonia. Rennet. Floor mats and floor rugs of wool not exceeding 60 square feet in area. Leather manufactures, n.e.i. Leather bags, attache cases and similar receptacles. Certain bottles and jars. Roofing tiles and ridging, glass, and earthen. Plaster pulp sheets; plaster board. Black printing ink in packages not less than lewt. Wrapping paper, printed or unprinted. Cartridges, shot. Certain agricultural implements and machinery. Wireless broadcast receiving sets mounted in cabinets. Spray pumps, hand or foot power. Electric insulators; valves and. cocks of copper alloy; hydro-extractors; oil engines; machines, machinery; engines, and appliances which can be made economically in New Zealand . Baths. Knees, bends, elbows and other fittings brass or other copper alloy, for pipes. Window sashes, or frames, metal. Linseed oil, unrefined; White lead ground in oil. Paints, colours, ground in liquid, or fixed ready for use; kalsomine and distempers. Varnishes, lacquers, japans, terebine, odmd , stams for wood, petrifying liquids. Tirpber, rough sawn. Timber, sawn dressed. Doors and sashes, wooden, plain or gla.z€*.d. Gelatine, glue, isinglass and size. BISCUITS AND CONFECTIONERY The reasons why the duties on biscuits and confectionery have altered are explained by Mr. Stewart. Under the tariff of 1921 biscuits of whatever value paid the same rate of duty 2d a lb British preferential tariff, and 3d a lb general tariff —says the Minister. The result was that on the cheap classes of biscuits a relatively heavy duty was imposed, while the duty on the more expensive classes was a very low one. An ad valorem duty is considered to be much more equitable than the specific rate previously adopted. The suggested rate of 20 per cent. British preferential tariff gives a reasonable margin of protection to local manufacturers on the various classes of biscuits manufactured in the Dominion.. Representations regarding confectionery were made by manufacturers showing that under the 1921 tariff the industry was not in a satisfactory position and that several manufacturing firms have been forced to cease operations in recent years. Importations of confectionery have increased during the past five years from approximately £150,000 to over £300,000 a year. There are good reasons for’ changing the specific and ad valorem duties of the 1921 tariff to a general ad valorem rate. The proposed new rates of 25 per cent, and 45 per cent, will, the Minister states, represent only a slight increase on certain classes of chocolate confectionery. CARPETS The proposed amendment in relation to the duties on carpet has been modified. since the introduction of the resolutions. It is now proposed that the duty of 25 per cent, and 45 per cent, shall be restricted to floor-mats and floor-rugs of or containing •wool or hair and having an area not exceeding 60 square feet. Larger carpets will .remain dutiable at 20 per cent, under the British preferential tariff. The increased rate proposed in re spect of the smaller sizes of wool rugs is intended to assist in the manufacture of these floor-rugs in the Dominion. These goods are made in Auckland, and the industry gives employment to approximately 60 people.

AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS With relatively unimportant excep tions, agricultural implements and machinery are admitted under the 1921 tariff free from all sources. A request has been mad© by local manufacturers for tariff protection in respect of certain classes of implements and machines. These goods have been produced in the Dominion for many years past, and, by reason of their qualitv and suitability of design to meet local conditions, they have been an important factor in the development of the farming industry of the Dominion. The competition of imported goods has, however, been such that the outputs of local works have been seriouslv reduced. It is therefore proposed that the rates of duty on the following agricultural implements (not being hand-worked) —namely, cultivators, harrows, ploughs, drills, and other seed and fertiliser sowers, combined or separator, lime-sowers, seed or grain cleaners, and cellular seed or 1 grain separators—shall be 10 per cent.

under the British preferential tariff and 35 per cent, under the general tariff. WIRELESS APPARATUS It is proposed that ■wireless broadcast receiving-sets mounted in cabinets shall be charged with duty at the rate of 10 per cent, under the British preferential tariff and at the rate of 30 per cent, under the general tariff; that the electrical components of the sets when imported apart from the cabinets shall be admitted free under the British preferential tariff or charged with duty at 20 per cent under the general tariff; and that the cabinet work for the sets when imported separate therefrom, or when not containing any substantial portion of the set, shall be classed as cabinetware n.e.i.. 25 per cent, under the British preferential tariff or 45 per cent, under the general tariff.