GERMAN COMPETITION.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1818, 2 August 1913, Page 4

GERMAN COMPETITION.

SURCHARGE NULLIFIED. The following resolution was mado by the Agricultural Societies' Conference yesterday:— 'That the Prime Minister should bo asked to consider tlie wisdom of giving increased preference to all British manufactures, seeing that tho present . preference is discounted by various shipping companies carrying German manufactures and goods from London at lower rates than British manufactures and goods." Speaking to tho motion Sir Walter Buchanan, M.P., said that he had brought tho subject up in the House in the shape of a question as to whether tho Government would look into tho position of tho rebates iu railway freight granted by the German Government on gcods destined for the colonies. Tho position, as lie understood it, was that tho rebate granted by the German Government more than maiio up for tho surcharge duty placed by New Zealand on foreign goods; German goods with a direct bill of lading from tho manufacturer were landed in New Zealand at loss freight cost than British-made goods. Tho remedy seemed an increase of the surcharge. It was no use .having a surcharge if it was nullified by the German Government. He had no doubt that thero was an arrangement between tho shipping companies (and that tho Union Company was in the arrangement) to so eaTry theso goods that a German line . would not start running direct to New Zealand. The answer given Mm in the House was that the matter would be carefully considered during, tho present session. The matter was of considerable importance.