“DUMPING” GAS STOVES.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 May 1921, Page 4

“DUMPING” GAS STOVES.

The use by the Minister of Customs (Hon. W. Downie Stewart) of the War Regulations to prohibit the importation of gas cookers shows how loth Parliament should be to give too much power to Ministers. The sole reason assigned by the Minister for his extraordinary action in this matter can hardly be expected to convince the public that the prohibition was justified on account of the dumping of gas coqkers taking place, and that these articles were being sold to New Zealand importers at less than the fair market value at which they were being sold in the country of exportation. The Minister asserts that the object of the prohibition is not to create a monopoly. Is it to protect a monopoly ? What the real reason, is seems shrouded in mystery. ’ We can understand the public 'being protected from profiteering, but cannot fathom the intent of an order which keeps up the high cost of living. Apparently the Minister tells the public that his conscience, and that of the Customs Department, will mot permit the sale of gas cookers in the Dominion at a less cost than they are sold at in the country of origin. It is somewhat remarkable that while the Minister repudiates the idea that the prohibition has any connection with the protection of local producers, yet he makes prominent mention, later in his statement, of the large number of men employed in this industry in the Dominion, and, as unemployment is increasing, it will, he claims, be better to “pay a few shillings more for gas cookers than allow importers to destroy the local industry by selling the cookers at a less price than that at which they are being sold in Britain.” If that is not protecting local producers, then the English language has no meaning. It is as impossible to reconcile the Minister’s statements as it is to understand the real reason why the Customs Department has been placed in such a predicament. Probably he may not be aware of a fact that is generally known—namely, that the Dominion is practically dependent on importations of gas cookers. One- point is perfectly clear—that the War Regulations should no longer be allowed to exist if they are to be used to bolster up the Customs tariff. Let it be noted that these are British goods, and not German. The Minister, having signally failed to justify his action, should lose no time in revoking an order the impropriety of which is beyond question.