OPPOSED TO SILK TAX.

Timaru Herald, Volume XCVIII, 19 May 1925, Page 7

OPPOSED TO SILK TAX.

Eye-Opener for the

Chancellor.

MENACING IMPORTANT INDUSTRY.

fly Cabla —Pre«a Association —Copyright.

Australian aud N.Z. Cable Association.

LONDON, May 17. Opposition to the silk tax is strengthening.

The Sunday papers of. all shades unanimously condemn it.

The “Sunday Times” does not think the tax will survive the destructive criticism pouring in upon it. The paper' declares that Mr Churchill thought he was taxing luxury, but he now knows he is taxing a vital raw material. The “Observer” says: “Every friend of Mr Churchill hopes he will abandon the artificial silk tax to the advantage of the Budget as a whole. Artificial silk is no more a, proper subject for taxation than cotton or wool. It is part of the Lancashire raw material.” What is described as the most influential textile deputation ever organised, representing the whole of the Yorkshire wool and Lancashire cotton industries, saw Mr Churchill and protested against the silk duties as a tax on important raw materials. It was poihted out that mixtures of wool and artificial silk and cotton had grown increasingly popular, and trade m these goods was helping to tide over the worst depression ever known in Lancashire. The tax would gravely interfere with that trade, and throw thousands out of employment. Yorkshireiiien pointed out that half Bradford’s looms were now idle.

The deputation showed samples of competing artificial silk produced oh the Continent, in India and in China, afid declared that the trade was looking forward. to the discovery of new synthetic silk, which- the duty would stifle.

Mr Churchill asked the deputation to choose representatives to discuss rebates on silk exports. The deputation rejected the suggestion, and demanded that the tax shbuld be dropped: