RUBBER GOODS.

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 20907, 14 July 1933, Page 12

RUBBER GOODS.

♦ JAPANESE COMPETITION. SERIOUS MENACE ALLEGED. ',rf.E5S ASSOCIATION TELEGB.MI.) WELLINGTON, July 13. "It is a terrible business this Japanese competition," said Mr D. F. Mcncur, New Zealand manager of the Canada Tire and Rubber Company, giving evidence before the tariff commission to-day. Mention was made of the operations of Japanese factories in British Malaya, and in crossexamination witness admitted that he appreciated the difficulty of imposing a prohibitive tariff to meet the portion. Mr Moncur urged that British rubber goods should be retained on the free list, but that increased ad valorem duties or specific duties, which ever was the greater, should be imposed on foreign articles. He emphasised the serious menace of Japanese competition, and said that on account of the low standard of living in that country, combined with other factors, the British manufacturer was placed in an extremely disadvantageous position.

Professor B. E. Murphy: Is there anything to prevent Japanese capital from transferring to our Eastern possessions end operating there?

Witness said that he realised the problem was a difficult one.

Mr J. B. Gow: It looks as if it is a matter for negotiation between the governments concerned. Professor Murphy: Assuming that we put a duty against Japan that would act as an effective protection, would that not greatly strengthen the transfer of Japanese-owned industry into these British possessions? When they got there they might still be a British industry technically, but in fact an extension of Japanese capitalism. Witness: That is quite true.

Professor Murphy: That is the problem, and it is the thing that will exorcise the minds of this commission not a little.