JAM FROM OVERSEAS

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 717, 17 July 1929, Page 9

JAM FROM OVERSEAS

MENACE TO NEW ZEALAND INDUSTRY NEED FOR SPEEDY RELIEF Because, during the past 18 months, South African tinned jams have been placed on the New Zealand market in increasing quantities. New Zealand jammakers and fruitgrowers are facing a serious diminution of their market. So urgent has the position become that a representative of the Customs Department has been dispatched to South Africa, where he will investigate the trade. Inquiries as to the extent of the importation, and the existence or otherwise of a dumping policy on the part of South African firms, have been made locally by the department. In the meantime, New Zealand jammakers are feeling the pinch keenly. They point to reduced output, and stress the serious nature of the situation from the point of view of growers, whose market is being dangerously restricted. DISASTROUS POSITION “It is enough to make one weep.” an Auckland jam manufacturer told a Sun man this morning. “Growers who have sold to us regularly for years come in to place their contracts, and we cannot take their fruit. The position is disastrous to the growers, and the only solution I can see is increased duty on imported jams." Discussing the circumstances leading up to the present position, he said that the importation of South African jams had begun in a comparatively small way about 18 months ago. In 1928 the South African sup plies reaching New Zealand were valued at a total of £ 11,359. This year it was greater. New Zealand growers, he said, had made representations some time age. and it was to be hoped that the Minister of Customs would lose no time in completing his investigations, other wise growers and makers alike would be in a grave position. The South African supplies were offered in tins of 16oz, at the same price as the New Zealand-made 14oz tin. He admitted that the quality was quite good. People saw a new label, were attracted by it, and were not disappointed when they opened the tins and tried the contents. PRICES REDUCED New Zealand manufacturers had done all they could to meet the com petition. They had cut prices by lid a lb on many of the stock lines, but to make other changes would mean the alteration of machinery to make different tins, and the scrapping of huge quantities of labels. “Four South African firms are now sending forward supplies to New Zealand,” he continued. “I would not say that their methods are altogether dumping, nor are their prices entirely ruled by cost of production. The fact remains that they offer these jams at a little less than New Zealand parity and the public is buying them. The present duty on imported jams from British sources is 2d a lb. South Africa being allowed 3 per cent, off that amount. “The effect here is shocking. We have had to put off hands and close down the works on Saturdays.” SOMETHING NEW Outlining the position from the point of view of the importer, an Auckland merchant said that the South African jams had been something new to the public in that they comprised pineapple, apricot and pineapple, green fig, grape and apricot. With the exception of apricot, these jams were not in direct competition with New Zealand lines, which did not include such mixtures, and in the case of apricot a great proportion of the New Zealand jam was made from pulp. “Since the first importation of those new varieties we have tried a little marmalade and peach,” he added, “but only the lines previously mentioned are the real sellers. “From what I can see, or >wn trade with local makers is as as ever because housewives are making less jam today and there is room on the market for both the local and th<imported article. English jams have been coming in for years and nothing has been said, but because another colony has entered into the trade, New Zealand makers are complaining.” An Auckland retailer contended that South African jams were selling well because of their novelty, but their market was restricted to those who preferred the unusual flavours Any such market was necessarily a comparatively small one.