ANTI-DUMPING MEASURES

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28561, 15 April 1958, Page 14

ANTI-DUMPING MEASURES

“Remember The Housewife” (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 9 p.m.) LONDON, April 14. The “Financial Times” said today that if the Government was to apply anti-dumping measures against butter coming into Britain from Europe to the detriment of New Zealand produce, it would be artificially raising the cost of living.

“It is to be hoped that the Government will remember the housewife,” it said.

The “Financial Times” said that until recently cheaper butter had been primarily a cause of pleasure to the housewife—as well as relief to her budget—and a cause of concern to the producers of butter and margarine alike. “But now with the Board of Trade considering applications from New Zealand, the United Kingdom’s National Farmer’s Union and the Milk Marketing Board for the imposition of a duty on dumped butter, cheap butter has become an iss.ue of more general interest.

“New Zealand’s application for protection is not directed so much against dumping in genera] —herself and Denmark excluded, practically all exporting countries dump butter—but towards safeguarding the interests of what she considers to be the traditional suppliers of the United Kingdom. “Thus Australia, which sells butter here at almost half the home price, is not mentioned in the application. “What New Zealand and the United Kingdom farmers want is a higher price in this country, and they seem prepared to risk a reversal of the demand trend from butter back to margarine,” the “Financial Times” said.