TRADE WITH GERMANY

Hokitika Guardian, 7 March 1922, Page 1

TRADE WITH GERMANY

PRECAUTIONS IN AUSTRALIA.

SYDNEY, February 22. According to the Prime Minister (Mr Hughes) there is no likelihood of the resumption of trade with Germany resulting in British and Australian goods having to contend with unfair competition.

Mr Hughes has announced that if merchants were declining to buy British and Australian goods because they I were under the impression that when trade relations were resumed with Germany, German prices would be so much below those ruling in Australia as to make the prehases of British nnd Australian goods unprofitable, they were proceeding on the false assumption that German exporters would be allowed the benefit of the depreciation of the mark. I This he explained, was delusion as the Anti-Dumping Act provided the necessary machinery to enable British and Australian interests to be safe-guard-ed. Parliament would, Mr Hughes said, meet before the embargo on trade with German expired, and if the present Act were found insufficient to protect .British and Australian industries against unfair competition, steps would be taken to see’ that justice was done. ‘‘l uo not want,’’ said the Prime Minister, "any importers to be under any misapprehension as to the intentions of the Government. The avowed intention of the legislative is to safeguard British and Australian industries. If 75 per cent, exchange duty were the only protection afforded by the Act, it would not be protection against Germany and Itussia, and it would L lie re fore be necessary to look to the other sections of the Act by which ample protection is afforded.” The Anti-Dumping Act is not one only factor which threatens importations from Germany when the ombargo is Lifted in August. It would appear from advices received by Melbourne merchants that official action is being taken in Germany to prevent the acceptance of orders on the mark basis. A letter received by a Melbourne firm fi'om a German manufacturing company states:—“lt is absolutely impossible to obtain permission to export any goods ordered after December l ltli, last if the goods have been sold in mark currency. No new orders will be accepted based on the mark currency. Even payments in advance of orders, cannot be accepted if the orders were placed since December 14th.”