Import Duty

Radio Record, Volume V, Issue 4, 7 August 1931, Page 4

Import Duty

English Components pN the following letter the correspondent errs in ascribing to ourselves certain statements. ° Our report outlined the facts of certain correspondence between a trade represertative and the Postmaster-General and specifically stated "In discussing this point, the trade correspondent takes the view that, regrettable as it might be te udmit it, the plain fact is that reeeivers from the United States are the most suitable for New Zealand conditions." Our correspondent is welcome to express his views on this imat ter in our columns, but we would ask him card others) tv aim at more accuracy in comment. A newspaper does not adopt as its own all items or opinions given as news in its columus, Referring to your paragraph headed "Duty on Radio Goods" in your issue of July 24, I would join issue with you on the points raised therein. (i) U.S.A. receivers are "most suitable for New Zealand conditiors." This is an old slogan used without any argument to support it. There are several firms in New Zealand which make wireless sets, and if these are not "more suitable’ then it does nof say much for our own radiotricians. In most of these I notice Hnglish components are mostly used. Also. the U.S.A. makers are adopting Erglish and Continental ideas for their sets, us example the screen-grid and pentode valves. In your own paper you give English ideas in the circuits for home constructors, and most home constructors use English parts and valves, I might add that the New Zealandmade sets compare more than favour ably in performarce with the U.S.A. sets, and I myself had an English battery set that I would not have exchanged for any American, (2) "English manufacturers were asking prives that enabled them to pay up to 100 per cent. dividend." You do not say what dividend the American companies pay, even if your other statement about Hnglish companies is correct, which I doubt. Besides which. the American companies go to the other extreme and "dump" their goods. I had a pile of advertising matter sent ne from a correspondent in America giving the American prices of wellknowu sets and parts, and was sur prised to notice that the New Zealand prices as advertised here are about the same as, and in some cases less than, the price for the same set or part in America-this in spite of the high duty complained of. (8) Finally I think it would be a good plan if New Zealand followed the example of Australia and proh‘bited the importation of complete sets, after due notice had been given. This would give us the expansion of a new industry which has already started,

and would help to some extent "ur unemployment problem. Many wireless dealers are making sets now, either to order or to their own ideas, and these are giving complete satisfaction. I have no interest commercially with any wireless firm, but write as au ordinary New Zealand listener.-I am, etc., J. BURT. _Kohukohu.