TARIFF ENQUIRY

Hokitika Guardian, 14 July 1933, Page 5

TARIFF ENQUIRY

JAP COMPETITION EVIDENCE BEFORE COMMISSION. (Per Press Association—Copyright). . WELLINGTON, July 13. “It is a terrible business, this Japanese competition,:,said My D. F. Honour,. New Zealand manager for the Canada Tire Rubber C°y., when giving evidence before the- Tariff Commission, to-day. Mention was -made of the operations of Japanese factories in ■ iU'itisn Malaya. In cross-examination, . the . witness admitted that he appreciated the ' difficulty ■ of imposing &. prohibitive xarmr to meet the .position. Mr M-oncur urged ..that British rubber goods be retained on the free list, but that increased ad valorem duties, or specific duties, whichever were the greater, be imposed, on foreign articles, He stresed' as ,g, seriou 6 menace the Japanese competition and said that on acoount of-the low standard rtf , Wing in .’that country, combined with other factors, British manufacturers were placed in an extremely disadvantageous position.' Professor Murphy : Is 'there anything to prevent .Japanese capital from transferring to - our Eastern possessions and operating thore? . Witness, said .that-- he .realised': ttya. problem was a difficult one. ■''

tyr. Gow: • It- lookg as if it is a matter for negotiation * between the Governments concerned.

Professor Murphy;,; .Assuming' ■ that we put a duty 1 against ■ Japan • that would act as ' effective -protection, would tha'-t - not ' greatly ' strengthen the (transfer of Japanese-owned industry -into these British possessions? jVVhen they got there, they A might still bo a' British industry technically, but, jn fact, an extension of, Japanese- capitalism;- LSSJ 'i i; t;'

;V9[il£iess ' That, is qujitejtrue.p . ’ Professor Murphy p That ig a- 1 problem,'J and-* it will' exercise the mind of this commission not q, little( \ ' : ,