JAPANESE IMPORTS

Hokitika Guardian, 15 October 1932, Page 5

JAPANESE IMPORTS

TRADE MENACE OPPOSITION IN NEW ZEALAND (Per Pi ess Association — Copyright.) WELLINGTON, October 14. Urging that increasing importations of eheao footwear from Japan, the Malay States, and the Straits Settlements were a menace, not only to .the manufacturers and operatives of New Zealand, but also-to farmers and the tanning industry, a deputation from the Now Zealand Boot Employees’ Federation and the New Zealand Boot Manufacturers’ Association waited on the Prime Minister to request Government intervention. Mr Forbes promised to look into the question. Mr James, M.P., introduced the deputation. He said they were l anxious to bring under the Prime Minister’s notice the growing importation of canvas rubber shoes and complete rubber shoes. The duty was 50 per cent on the imports from Japan, and 25 per cent on the others, but since the average prices of the goods were only lid (Japanese) and Is 6d (Malayan), the duty did not make much difference. The retail prices were so cheap that working men were induced to wear shoes in summer months. Mr C\ A. Wattß (secretary of the Employee’s Federation) said that the Japanese shoe was a splendid imitation of that imported from Canada, and it was so much cheeper that Canada would soon lose the market. Mr J. A, East (president- of the Boot Manufacturers’ Association) deceased that these cheap shoes were a menace to the indus'ry. Some of the rubber shoes were such good imitations of leather that they would probably come to be worn in the winter months, also ruining the winter trade.

“No civilised country could face competition of this sort,”! said the Prime Minister. “One of our big pro. blems is in regard to those excessively low-priced goods. Formerly we have been always able to deal with these matters by tariffs, but it seems that these goods are beyond even tariffs.” He mentioned several other examples of the “staggering low price” at which Japanese goods were being sold. He promised to discuss the whole matter with the Comproller of Customs. .