Gas Cookers.

Hokitika Guardian, 16 June 1921, Page 1

Gas Cookers.

DOWNIE STEWART’S EXPLANATION.

[by TELEGRAPH—PER PRESS ASSOCIATION'

WELLINGTON, June 15. Tlie following communication has been received from Mr Downie Stewart Minister of Customs:—“lt has now been decided to revoke the Order in Council relating to gas cookers as the reason for its continuance has ceased to exist. When the Order-in-Council was passed, its object was to give us time to make inquiries in England as to whether there was an explanation of the apparent cases of dumping. Our eablo reply from England has now been received. It is not entirely satisfactory but it indicates that the instances of dumping that were under review may be open to explanation, or wore isolated cases and not part of the settled policy. A curious thing is that in spite of all the criticism that has been aimed at the Order-in-Council, the most that has happened is a temporary suspension of some permits until advice could be obtained by cable. The Ordor-in-Cou/ncil was purely a precautionary measure to enable us to control the situation. Had we stopped to make full inquiries before issuing the Order-in-Council, the whole object in view might have been defeated by a large dumping contract being made while we were still investigating. The chief criticism lias been on the broad ground that the use of an Order-in-Council for such a purpose and is an arbitrary exercise of authority by the Executive. My reply to That is that, as we have no anti-dumping legislation, we had to do the best we could without it. Moreover, if new tariff legislation is to be adapted to suit modem condition,, I think it will have to confer more discretionary powers than past legislation has done. If parliament refuses such powers then we must go on with a cast iron tariff, incapable of adaption to emergencies.”