NEW DUMPING TAX

Hokitika Guardian, 14 July 1931, Page 3

NEW DUMPING TAX

( WARNING PERIOD DROPPED. : poavers of minister. ....•■ (By fetegraphrrPer,' Press Association) A ; AfELLTNGTON, July 13.. . Anc important alteration in the powers of the Minister. . of, Customs., > regarding the imposition of dumping duties jon imports is notified in the Gazette. It has., been decided by the Government that in future ; a : dumping duty. may. be applied, to imports without) no bice, being rgi yen th us doing aTvay. with the obligation-, of giving three month V warning:. .:'; ,; . ■ .

The /notice fin the Gazette states that ..the action has been. taken in yiew of the abnormal economic condi; tions existing, in the' .Dominion. In the administration of the 1922 Act every endeavour will he made .to cause as little inconvenience as possible to importers and others ’ concerned. Power to impose dumping .duties upon imports is, extended to. the ... Minister under.,the Customs. Amendment Act, 1922, the object of the., duties .being to protect New . Zealand industries. The .Minister may ' imposc) a dumping duty upon gopdis^ifjthe : actual, selling price- is to. the importer,;, in New Zealand. Jess , than their , .current domestic value, -'if the selling;,prfce is : le'ss than the cost of production' ' in the country of origin vor the< country of. exportation,; .Viiipr.: if,,.special 1 concessions,, have l>een granted by the exporting country, which might he. injurious. to, New 'Z^andjindUs^;;^/;-';^.::-’ ' Hon. G. AV. /Fori>e ( s,.who hqlds the portfolio, of Customs, . said. the chief reason for,;tho move was to enable the G overnment :tihr ,tal?e - immedi ate action and so prevent . goods being landed >in ■: New Zealand without a dumping duty being imposed f. ■■ /'Previously it was necessary-to give three months’ notice.’ ; "

Mr Forbes said the- action was being taken mainly against Australian imports, although the power to impose dumping/ duties on goods from other countries \ would he held by the Government. -It ..was desirable that adequate protection should be given to New Zealand industry. Asked whether it had recently been found that goods were being landed in New Zealand to the detriment of local industry,- the Prime Minister said-the position had; not become very serious, although he believed there existed a 'definite danger.