RUSSIAN PRODUCTS IN N.Z.

Evening Star, Issue 20998, 12 January 1932, Page 5

RUSSIAN PRODUCTS IN N.Z.

AH EMBARGO ASHES FDR [Sracui. to th» ‘ Star.’] CHRISTCHURCH, January 12. “ I understand that their industries '■ are based on conditions that no British community could stand up against,” ' said Mr Forbes, when replying to Mr H, Holland, M.P., who waited on him ' last night with the request that he should use his endeavours in the direc- ; tion of having a complete embargo placed on the importation of all Russian products into British territory. Mr Holland said he had been approached by a number of business men, who had asked him to bring the matter under Mr Forbes’s notice. Russian products, stated Mr Holland, were coming into unfair competition with Britain, 'Australia, and New Zealand, as they could be sold by that country at prices ,which could not be faced by its competitors. Even if a duty of 4d per lb were placed on Russian butter by Britain the effect would not be to assist the dominion, for the reason that such butter would still be profitable to Russia owing to the conditions under which it was turned out. Russian products could be sold at low prices because that country had no standard wages. Mr Holland quoted timber and matches as two lines which were being produced at prices against which New Zealand could not expect to compete. In reply, the Prime Minister said he had not yet had the opportunity of ascertaining what quantity of Russian qpoda m se iate £be domisipp* bui he

would have the matter looked into. While it was desirable to foster local industries, to exclude all goods of a country was an Empire matter. No country had yet done such a thing so far as he was aware. Mr Holland could rest assured, however, that the Government was alive to the danger of the position, and was obtaining all the information it could regarding it.