ENGLISH POTTERY

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 102, 27 October 1934, Page 13

ENGLISH POTTERY

REMOVAL OF DUTY

LIVELY SATISFACTION

CHANCE TO RECOVER

(From "Tho Post's" Representative.)

LONDON, September 20,

The liveliest satisfaction has . been created throughout the British potteries by the announcement that the New Zealand Government has decided to remove entirely tho import duty ou British table china and earthenware. While the 20 per cent, duty ou British goods will vanish on September 30, the duty on foreign pottery of 45 per cent, will remain. The decision is a sequul to a request made in July by British manufacturers that tho duty should bo abolished anil imported pottery marked with tho country of origin. _ Inquiries made in tho chief china manufacturing centres, namely, North Staffordshire, Derby, Worcester, and Dorset, show that British manufacturers anticipate a decided improvement in trade with New Zealand, where foreign exporters, notably Japan, have of recent years made substantial headway, A representative of the British Pottery Manufacturers' Federation, in _ an interview, said that the concession would undoubtedly result in British manufacturers re-establishing themselves in the New Zealand market. .

A loading Hanley manufacturer remarked: "in 1931 Japanese exports to New Zealand were of a total value of £8358, but last year they .had reached £2G,257. On the other hand, exports of British pottery to New .Zealand in 1931 totalled £154,185, and last year had dropped to. £93,543." The Longton china trade particularly is expected to benefit from the tariff concession. A manufacturer, there stated that Japanese firms have been exporting to New Zealand cups uud saucers at a price fifty per, cent, lower than thti British price. Atone time, lie added, the main competition was confined to cups and saucers, but latterly the 'Japanese have been capturing the dinner-ware' trade. "A VERY NICE MARKET." The "Evening Sentinel/ 3 Hanley, Staffordshire, comments: — "New Zealand is called- by tka potters 'a very nice market.' There are" bigger, of course, but New Zdilanders prefer British pottery bocauao of sentimental regard for -the Homo Country and, even more, because they recognise the infinitely superior quality of English ceramics.^ Also they buy wares of a good class and of excellent taste. Once wo had the New Zealand pottery market"-'all to our. selves, but gradually competition developed, and in the last few years tho Japanese have been making an intensive drive with low-priced wares. "Representations to the New Zea; land Government havo been most favourably considered, and have induced a very substantial concession—a preference of 45 per cent, over the foreigner—for which tho Staffordshire and other British potters - must say 'Thank you' very heartily.* In short, from October 1, all British table iwares will bo admitted into New Zealand duty free, while the Japanese and other foreign manufacturers will be confronted with the existing general tariff of 45 per cent. . THE POTTERS' CHANCE. "Before the onset..of the, depression the New Zealand market was a real nest-egg for our potters. Even in 1931 it represented £154,155, but last year it had shrunk to £93,543. Meanwhile, the Japanese have been running away with trado which was formerly ours. Japanese pottery exports to New Zealand in 1931 were. £8558, in 1932 they had increased to £10,212, and in 1933 they had bounded up to £26,287, three times the totr: of 1931. "Now our potters have their chance. After expressing appreciation, for -tibia.. concession, they should got busy, in developing the advantage of this splendid concession. They should make . sure exactly what wares our relatives and friends in New Zealand require, and then sell to them at the lowest economic rate, not only to enlarge the trade, but to make certain of ejecting those Japanese competitors from the foothold they have gained. In times of import quotas, high tariffs, and barriers of all sorts it is almost unique, to find a free market. New Zealand has, indeed, done handsomely by tho British potters." DUTY OF HOUSEWIVES. Mr. Harold K. Hales, M.P. for Hanley, Jims sent the following, letter for publication in New Zealand newspapers:—

"The New Zealand' Government's grant of free- entry to British-made tablo china and earthenware is a notable example of the possibilities of extending inter-Empire trade. The remission after September 30 of the 20 per cent, duty on British pottery means that not only will the goods of British manufacture bo able to enter the Dominion untaxed, but that they will also enjoy a preference of 45 per cent, over foreign pottery, tho duty on which, remains unchanged. The decision is the outcome of negotiations' between ro"n>sentatives of the British pottery industry and Mr. Coates, the New-Zealand Minister of Finance, in which the former pointed out that British china and cai'thenwavo were in competition with cheap goods of Asiatic manufacture, and were further handicapped by imitation of design against which our manufacturers had no remedy.

"It is fitting that British crockery should have free entry to the New Zealand breakfast tablo in return for the uataxed admittance of Now Zealand butter and other dairy products to the British breakfast table. During thepast eight months our export^ of pottery to New Zealand have increased by more than £100,000. Under the stimulus of this new concession, which follows a whole series of extended preferences to various British manufactures, there should bo a further substantial increase in trade to New Zealand in the near future. ;

"This practical gesture of Empire reciprocity might now bo carried a stago further by housawivos throughout the British pottery manufacturing districts, and they might, make a rule oJ: buying New Zealand butter in preference to foreign butter. For never before in the history of our country lias there boon such a pressing need for the closest co-operation between Great Britain and our overseas Dominions."