GERMAN DUMPING

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 97, 18 January 1921, Page 7

GERMAN DUMPING

A MENACE TO BRITISH INDUSTRIES DETAILS OF PRICE-CUTTING Recent complaints in the United Kingdom on the subject of German dumping lend interest to some particulars of Anglo-German trade lately supplied' by the National Union of Manufacturers of Great Britain. This organisation, according to the "Morning Post,” has collected a representative number of foreign made articles which are being imported into the country without any restriction, and bear not the slightest indication as to their country of origin. Side by side with them they are placing corresponding articles of British manufacture, together with the prices at which the 1 imports are sold to the retailer hero and the actual cost of producing the same goods in this country. The result, it is added, is striking. Industries established to meet national needs during the war are in danger of being crushed out of existence. Other works of longer standing are also feeling the pinch of unfaii’ competition, while such an institution as Lord Roberts’s Memorial Workshops, designed to provide employment for disabled soldiers and sailors, finds itself beaten out of the market in toy-making.

Key Industry in Danger. Scientific glassware affords a useful object-lesson of the perils attending the present-day policy. This is one of the key industries of the land. Consignments of German scientific glassware are arriving in this country in everincreasing quantities, and are being offered at prices to the retailer considerably below what it costs to produce tire articles here. The rate of exchange is responsible in an appreciable degree for the difference, but apart from that the Germans are out to recapture tne'market, and prices are a secondary considers tion to them at present. Here are a few instances of the difference between German prices and British

Unmarked Goods. An extensive range of manufactured goods is pouring into this country, principally from Germany, with no mark as to their place of origin. The Germans. in their endeavours to regain the British market, do not advertise the place of origin of their goods. On the other hand, in their efforts to recapture the Argentine market they are at great pains to stamp the goods "Made in Germany.” This question of marking the goods with the country of origin has long been u bone of contention. Evidence on the point was given before the Committee on the Merchandise Marks Act, whose recommendations to the Government were that the marking should not be obligatory in every case, but that the Board of Trade should have power to frame an order in special cases, making it compulsory for certain classes of goods to be marked.

No particulars have been given as to the scope of the Bill which is being drafted, but it does not seem probable that the Government will go further unless pressure i« brought to bear on them, th.yi the recommendations of the committee. One suggestion made was that all imported goods should bear one of three labels: "Foreign made," “foreign manufacture,” or "foreign produce.” Forged Descriptions. The goods reaching this country from Germany cover a wide range, and include war stores. Evidence has come to hand of the application of false descriptions. and even of the forging of names, with the object of deceiving the British purchasers. These methods are infringements of the Merchandise Marks Act. For example, gloves with descriptions printed in French did not. come from France, and fabric gloves, stamped with the name of British makers, were imported from Germany. Some paint tubes, marked “Made in London, England,” came from Japan. It is manifest that the Merchandise Marks Act requires tightening up without delay.

costs of i>roduction: — German British (price to retailer) s. d. (cost to manufacture) s. d. lOOOcc. separating funnel, ... 4 0 17 7 400cc. flat bottom flask ... -U 500cc. graduated flask ..... 5 6 6 15ce. bulb pipette ... 1 Si 3 9 Potash bulb ... 1 9 3 6 Aneroid barometer .. 7 6 20 0 Chemical thermometer for testing acids ..12 3 0 Clinical thermometer .... 81 2 4 Gun metal cigarette case ..3 3 5 5 Aluminium teapot ... 3 9 5 6 Aluminium kettle ... 4 6 6 9 Perforator for office papers 13 0 15 6 per doz. per dos. Pen nibs 91 1 9 per grow, per gross Iboxed) (bulk) Pencil makers’ cutting tools 50 0