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Thursday, 11 September 1958

The " Summary of Alterations " which is now being circulated to honorable members sets out in convenient form the proposed rates of duty as compared with those now in operation.

Broadly the proposed variations in Customs Tariff Proposals No. 6 can be divided into two groups - those arising from recommendations of the Tariff Board and those of an administrative nature. The amendments arising from Tariff Board recommendations cover capstan- and' turret lathes, slide fasteners of the progressive interlocking type, metal clamps, hairdressers' and opticians' chairs, dental chairs, dental units, cotton yarns: and staple fibre yarns. I shall, at. a later stage, table the relevant Tariff. Board reports.

Duties of 20 per cent. British preferential' tariff and 271 per cent, intermediate tariff are proposed: in respect of capstan an'di turret- lathes which- have previously not. been subject to' protective rates of duty, whilst on other lathes now covered by protective item- 176 (c) (3) the British preferential' tariff- duty of 1 5 per cent, is being increased to 20 per cent.

Oh' slide fasteners of the progressive interlocking type, and: parts thereof, the; existing duties of 174- per cent. British preferential tariff and 50 per' cent', general' tariff have been' varied to a* sliding scale basis'. In the main this will represent at lowering1 of" existing duties on high-priced, fasteners' and parts, and' increased duties, on cheaper, fasteners and parts-.

Om metal clamps, other, than "C " or " G " clamps* of' malleable- iron castings, duties- of . 27i per cent-. British? preferential tariff) and} 37,i per cent, intermediate tariff are: proposed. On the malleable iron " G " or "G" clamps the duties will be at the non-protective rates of free British preferential tariff and 74 per cent, intermediate tariff.

The new duties on hairdressers', opticians' and dental chairs are designed to provide increased protection against low-priced imported chairs. The- existing duties" have lost much of their protective value since the time when they were imposed, which was in the' 1930s.

The ad valorem" duties of 274- per cent. British preferential tariff and 45' per cent, intermediate- and general, tariffs on dental units remain unchanged. The existing alternative fixed-rate duties which apply under- the intermediate tariff and general tariff have ceased to be effective and are, therefore, being removed.

The existing protective duties on cotton yarns are1 being varied to give effective protection against low-priced- yarns in certain counts, that is to say, of certain thicknesses. At the- same time there is a reduction in the protection given to Australian manufacturers of coarse count yarns. Australian manufacturers are well established in thisfield,, and: in- the Tariff Board's- opinion do not need the full level of protection given by' the present duties.

Protective duties- are proposed for the first time in' respect of yarns containing more than 50" per cent, by weight of viscose, acetate or viscose and acetate rayon staple fibre.

Some twenty or so drafting changes are proposed in the textile and yarn items of the tariff to- give effect to the suggestion made by the Tariff Board, in an earlier report on artificial silk piece goods, that the term "artificial silk" should be replaced throughout' the tariff by the term "man* made fibres ". This change will bring the* tariff nomenclature into line' with current trade practice. A consequential amendment to- the thirteenth prefatory note to the Customs- Tariff is also being made.

Mr Ward - What is the significance of that change?'

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