DUTY ON CEMENT

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1014, 3 July 1930, Page 10

DUTY ON CEMENT

COST TO PUBLIC BODIES STATE INQUIRY WANTED Press Association WELLINGTON, Wednesday. At the conference today of the New Zealand Counties' Association, the delegates discussed the following remit from Raglan: “That the Government be urged to make an inquiry with the view of reducing the cost of cement manufactured in New Zealand, of which a large amount is now used by local bodies for the construction of roads and bridges, and, if it is found -that the selling price cannot be reduced, that the Government remove the duty on all imported cement.” The remit was moved by Mr. CJohnstone, of Whatawhata. “It affects practically every local body that is represented here t&day,” he said. “There is a duty of £1 a ton on imported cement, and if that were remitted it would make a Jot of difference.” Mr. L. Webb, of Whangarei, opposed the motion. He said a reduction of 10s a ton was available to local bodies for cement used on local body works. “It is the first I have heard of it,” said a delegate. “I feel sure,” Mr. Webb continued, “that it would do a great industry a good deal of harm if we passed a resolution of this type.” After further discussion, the chairman, Mr. A. E. Jull, said he did not like the idea of suggesting that the duty should be removed. He asked the mover whether he would consent to allowing the remit to end with the word “bridges,” but the motion was eventually carried.