BRITISH PREFERENCE

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1042, 5 August 1930, Page 8

BRITISH PREFERENCE

CONTENT BASIS SHOULD BE 75 PER CENT. MANUFACTURERS’ VIEWS Importations coming within the preferential duty allowed in New Zealand on articles of British manufacture must be 75 per cent, the products of British labour and materials, instead of a? per cent., according to the present basis of content. ■ This important opinion was reached by the Auckland Manufacturers' Association yesterday afternoon, following comment on the tariff amendments presented to Parliament by the Prime Minister, the Hon. G. W. Forbes. The association agreed to the suggestion of Mr. J. A. C. Allum that its opinion on the basis of content on British labour and materials, in order to allo,an imported article to come within the scope of preference, should be sent to the Prime Minister and to all members of Parliament. Another important suggestion by Mr Allum was that all raw materials for manufacture in New Zealand should be admitted free of duty, except whei<raw materials of the same nature were produced in the Dominion. Mr. Alio-; pointed out to the association that British manufacturers were allowe.l to import their raw materials free of duty. lu that, they had an advantage on the New Zealand manufacturer, and Mr. Allum thought the position need- •! careful study. Other members did not think the as sociation should issue an opinion until the aspects of the position had bee i discussed fully, and the suggestion was referred to a special committee for consideration. Introducing the question of the tariff amendments, the secretary, Mr. J. Findlay, remarked that the Prime Milister said the three objects serred be the changes would be:—(1) Increased revenue: (2) preference to Britu'i goods; and (3> encouragement of New Zealand's manufacturing industries. “REVENUE MAIN OBJECT” “It seems to me that the objects have been served in that order, for increased revenue undoubtedly is the principal object in view,” Mr. Findlay commented. Mr. Findlay went on to point out that the present time was appropriate for representations on the content basis of British labour an i materials in articles receiving preference. The goods should be 75 per cent. British, not 50 per cent, as at present. When the Hon. W. Downie Stewart was Minister of Customs, he had agreed with this contention, bat pressure had apparently been brongh’ to bear on the representations at Wellington. Mr. Allum characterised the presen* situation as ridiculous and impossible He maintained that the whole principle of the tariff preference on British goods depended on the trust thr.t the articles were genuinely of British manufacture. It was a fact that so little evidence of British manufacture was apparent in some goods that they "just scraped through” under the preference rule' Were New- Zealand manufacturers to be given the same protection as the British, they would be in a much stronger position. Because of ihis. he would move that, in view of th“ considerable preference given Brit L-n goods, the standard of qualification for preference should be 75 per cent. British labour and materials, and tha’ this opinion be communicated to members of Parliament. Mr. George Finn, president-of the association, stressed the need to hav< the bases of tariff the same in all toe countries of the British Empire, hi Wellington recently, he had discussed the position of tariffs with the Comp troller of Customs. Dr. G. Craig, wbo was to leave on August 12 for Canadand Great Britain. More information on preference would be availabi. when Dr. Craig returned, and it would be as well for Mr. Forbes, as Mini ter of Customs, to keep the question of preference in view until the comptroller's return.