TARIFF QUESTIONS

Hokitika Guardian, 30 January 1930, Page 5

TARIFF QUESTIONS

NEW ZEALAND SHEEP TONGUES. (Australian Press Association) (Received this day at 9.40 a.m.) SYDNEY, January 30. New Zealand has used Australia as a dumping ground "for her surplus sheep tongues for years, declared Reginald Nossiter of the Colonial Wholesale Meat Company Ltd, giving evidence before the Tariff Board, which is inquiring into new duties on preserved meats and meat extracts in Sydney. Nossiter said New Zealand had large export trade in frozen mutton and lamb. Her by products were sold where ever a market could be found regardless olf the cost, resorting to undercutting here in order to secure sales. Thus twopence per pound duty was insufficient to protect Australian pack-

Witness added that there were a\)proximately ten thousand eases of sheeps tongues on hand at a period when there should be nil. Prices for sheep, accordingly, had to be reduced in order to meet the fierce New Zealand competition, and pastoralists had to suffer. The American and New Zealand competition in preserved meats was also felt in Australia. Nossiter advocates a duty of six pence per pound. It was a fact also that New Zealand was -selling corned beef in Sydney below wlnit it could profitably be sold by local producers. The chairman of the Tariff Board reminded witness of the reciprocal arrangement already in operation with New Zealand in regard to certain products, and of the danger of cancelling preference to New Zealand where it had proved advantageous to the Dominion. He pointed out this could have only one result. Witness answered that he had not considered that point of view. The inquiry was adjourned.