POTTERY INDUSTRY CONCERNED

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22437, 25 June 1938, Page 13

POTTERY INDUSTRY CONCERNED

COMPETITION FROM UNMARKED ' IMPORTS (puss* iaaocntTioa tzueobau.) WELLINGTON, June 24. British earthenware and china manufacturers are considerably perturbed at what is happening on the New Zealand market, according to a statement by the National Council of the Pottery Industry, in a recent letter to the United Kingdom Manufacturers’ and New Zealand Representatives’ Association. , T "Some countries, particularly Japan, where labour costs are approximately one-fifth of those in the United Kingdozu, are deliberately imitating British productions, boti in shape and design, and the retail purchaser, without expert knowledge, may be quite unaware that the article he buys is a product of a foreign country/’ the letter states. - On the suggestion of the council, the association has written to the Bureau of Industry, suggesting that legislation should be passed to enable interested parties to apply to the Minister for Industries and Commerce (the Hon. D. G. Sullivan) for an order making it compulsory for imported pottery goods, the origin of which is not readily discernible to prospective customers, to be indelibly marked with the name of country of origin. The bureau has set up a special committee which is inquiring into the matter, and which is expected to make recommendations soon.