Duty On Radio Goods

Radio Record, Volume V, Issue 2, 24 July 1931, Page 4

Duty On Radio Goods

Argument for Reduction an (CORRESPONDENCE has recently taken place between the Postmgs-ter-General and certain trading interests on the subject of the high duty to which radio goods and apparatus imported into New Zealand are subject. When the recent alteration took place in the Customs tariff, the duty on radio sets from the United States was increased from 82 per cent. to 35 per cent., plus 9/40ths, a total of 42 and 7-8ths per cent. This has necessarily been reflected in increased prices to consumers. In correspondence, the PostmasterGeneral claimed that the object of the increased duties was to grant a preference to Empire products, and in certain cases to afford protection to local industry. In discussing this point, the trade correspondent takes the view that, regrettable as it might be to admit the plain fact is that receivers fro the United States are the most suitable for New Zealand conditions. In addition, apparently certain Bnglish manufacturers of sets were asking prices which enabled them to pay dividends of up to 100 per cent. The Minister was referred to a report in the "Wireless and Gramophone Export Trader" of June, 1931, in which information was given of two English radio firms paying dividends of 100 per cent. on their last veoar’s trading

operations. It was contended that, in view of this high dividend rate, ‘the prices being asked by the firms were unduly high, and such as to make them ineligible for continuance of Empire preference in New Zealand. The duty imposed by reason of the Government’s tariff in respect of midget sets amounts to 65 per cent. on American prices, in the case of consoles to about 75 per cent., and im the case of combination models to about 80 per cent. These figures are regarded as tending to affect the rate of expansion of radio in New Zealand.