3390 THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. [No. 80

Customs Tariff Commission, 1926-27.

Customs Department, Wellington, 6th December, 1926.

IT is hereby notified for public information that the Tariff Commission proposes to visit various places in New Zealand for the purpose of taking evidence from persons desiring to make representations respecting the Customs Tariff.

Any person desiring to make such representations in person should advise the Chairman of the Tariff Commission at the above address as to the article or articles in respect of which it is wished that the Customs Tariff should be maintained or altered. It is essential that the place or places at which such evidence can be tendered should be stated as soon as possible, as the itinerary of the Commission must be arranged at an early date.

Where there is an association or other body representing any particular trade or commercial interest, and such association or body is able to tender evidence of a satisfactory and comprehensive character, it will be preferred that the evidence be given by that association or body.

It is desired where personal evidence is to be given before the Commission, that the person intending to appear should previously supply, if possible, written information along the lines set out in the First Schedule hereto.

Due notice will be given in the New Zealand Gazette, and in the principal daily newspapers published in the district, as to the time and place at which the Commission will sit in each of the various centres which it will visit.

As the Commission is to report on or before 30th June next, it is desired that those interested should indicate as soon as possible the matters upon which they desire to make representations.

Representations made in writing by parties who do not desire to appear before the Commission in person must reach the Chairman not later than 31st March, 1927; it is desirable, however, that they be sent in at the earliest possible date.

All evidence supplied to the Commission either in writing or otherwise will be regarded as confidential.

It is important that, as far as possible, all the evidence tendered to the Commission should relate to specific articles or classes of articles, and that where it includes matters of fact such as the landed cost, manufactured cost, selling prices, or cost of transport of goods, or rates of wages, whether in New Zealand or elsewhere, such evidence should be supported by the authorities or other documents on which the evidence is based.

It is intended from time to time to publish in the Gazette lists of articles with respect to which the Commission has been asked or proposes to take evidence. It will be understood that the Commission does not bind itself to take evidence concerning or to consider only the article or articles mentioned in such lists. A preliminary list of such articles is set out in the Second Schedule hereto.

It is not expected that, except under special circumstances, the Commission will be able to hear evidence at places other than Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin, Invercargill, and Wellington.

GEO. CRAIG, Chairman.

FIRST SCHEDULE.

INFORMATION to be supplied in writing by person desiring to give evidence before the Tariff Commission.

1. Full name and address of person, and of person, firm, company, or association (if any) for whom he is acting.
2. Place and nature of business of such person, firm, or company.
3. Article or articles with respect to which it is desired to give evidence.
4. Rates of duty at present in force and alterations (if any) desired.
5. Reasons in full for desired alteration (if any).
6. Whether the person, firm, or company is a manufacturer actually manufacturing or producing the article or articles in New Zealand, or whether the person, firm, or company is intending to produce or manufacture the article or articles in New Zealand.

In the case of an Established Industry.

(a.) Average number of employees (showing male and female separately) employed in the business of manufacturing the article or articles during the preceding three years, and the average wages paid thereto.
(b.) Average number of hours per week worked by such employees.
(c.) Capital invested in such business during the last three years, under the following headings :— £
(i.) Value of plant and machinery .. ..
(ii.) Value of buildings .. .. .. ..
(iii.) Value of land used in the business .. ..
(iv.) Working capital .. .. .. ..
(v.) Other division of capital .. .. ..
Total .. .. .. .. ..
(d.) General management and distribution charges, including salaries of general manager, office staff, travellers, &c. (average during last three years only).
(e.) Repairs and maintenance of buildings, plant, machinery, &c. (average during last three years only).
(f.) Rents, rates, and taxes (average during last three years only).
(g.) Value during each of the last three years (at factory selling-prices) of articles produced at factory.
(h.) The principal materials (raw, partly manufactured, or completely manufactured materials) used during each of the last three years in the process of manufacture, showing nature of the same, country of origin thereof, and price delivered at factory.
(i.) Approximate proportion which the total New Zealand output of the article or articles in question at present bears to the total requirements of New Zealand.
(j.) Whether, during the past three years, there has been a sufficiency of competent labour offering for the purposes of this industry.
(k.) Countries from which the keenest competition arises and the proportion the freight bears to the f.o.b. value in the country of export.
(l.) If possible, wages paid to employees in such countries in the particular industry.
(m.) Names and addresses of other New Zealand manufacturers of this article.

In the case of a Prospective Industry.

(a.) Does the applicant undertake, if sufficient protection is granted by Parliament, to commence the manufacture of the article or articles in New Zealand; and, if so, within what period?
(b.) Average number of employees (showing males and females separately) proposed to be employed, and the average wages that would be paid thereto.
(c.) Amount of capital it is proposed to invest in the industry, under the following headings :— £
(i.) In land and buildings .. .. .. ..
(ii.) In plant and machinery .. .. .. ..
(iii.) Working capital, &c. .. .. .. ..
Total .. .. .. .. ..
(d.) The principal materials proposed to be used in the process of manufacture, showing nature of same, country of origin thereof, and price delivered at factory.
(e.) The proportion that the cost of labour will bear to the factory cost of the finished article or articles.
(f.) Estimated value of the annual requirements of New Zealand in the article or articles.
(g.) Estimated value of the annual output of the proposed factory.
(h.) Countries which at the present time supply the New Zealand market and the proportion the freight bears to the f.o.b. value in the country of export.
(i.) If possible, wages paid to employees in such countries in the particular industry.

7. Any other arguments to support the application.