37

H.—-28

Inquiry has been made into the profits of the woollen-manufacturing industry in New Zealand. It has been found that these profits are in general not unsatisfactory. In consideration of all the circumstances, the Commission is of the opinion that a case for increased tariff protection in respect of this industry has not been made. If the suggested remission of duty on raw cotton and cotton yarns is adopted, the alteration should be of assistance to the industry in so far as mills are prepared to undertake the manufacture of union textiles. 2. Clothing-manufactubing Industry. The relative tariff items in this matter are :—

Requests have been made for ail increase in the tariff on certain articles covered by these items. The main line of goods which requires some comment is ready-made clothing made from materials containing wool. In the first place, a section of the industry disclaimed any desire for an increased duty on women's clothing, and the difficulties of this section of the trade appear from the evidence to be more particularly due to changes in fashions which have tended to increase the demand for knitted goods. So far as men's and boys' clothing is concerned, the evidence does not clearly disclose any decline in New Zealand production. The following figures (which do not, of course, reflect any change in the volume of production which may have taken place during the year 1926-27) are taken from the factory-production statistics : — Production in New Zealand. Suits Trousers (Number). (Number). Year ended 31st March, 1922 .. .. .. .. 117,799 238,464 1923 .. .. .. .. 163,258 316,957 1924 .. .. ... .. 159,787 358,928 1925 .. .. .. .. 161,322 276,362 1926 .. .. .. .. 199,524 281,984 It is not possible to secure any statistical information regarding the importations of men's and boys' clothing, which are covered by the general statistical item " Apparel and ready-made clothing." Consideration has also been given to the tariff on other goods covered by the above-mentioned items, but it is not thought necessary to discuss in this report the facts relative to those commodities. The Commission does not recommend any alteration in the duties set out above, but is of the opinion that every assistance possible should be given to the clothing-manufacturing industry by the admission free, where practicable, of certain materials—at present dutiable—which are used in making up clothing in the Dominion.

Approximate Cost of Paper.—Preparation, not given ; printing (1,625 copies), £ 59.

Authority : W. A. G. Skinner, Government Printer, Wellington.—l 927.

Price is.]

Rate of Duty. British Preferential General Tariff. Tariff. Apparel made to the order, or measurement, of residents in New Zealand, and intended for the individual use of such residents, whether imported by the residents themselves or otherwise ; uniform clothing made to measurements sent from New Zealand 40% ad val. 60% ad val. Apparel, and ready-made clothing, n.e.i. ; hosiery, n.e.i. .. .. 25% ad val. 40% ad val. Hats, and caps, in any stage of manufacture, n.e.i., including hathoods n.e.i. .. .. .. .. .. .. 25% ad val. 40% ad val.