JAPANESE IMPORTS

Evening Star, Issue 21286, 15 December 1932, Page 14

JAPANESE IMPORTS

TOO CHEAP FOR COMPETITION AN AUCKLAND INQUIRY [Per United Press Association.] AUCKLAND, December 15. The Chamber of Commerce to-day resolved to ask its Importers’ Exporters’, and Manufacturers’ Committees each to furnish a report on Japanese imports. One speaker said Japanese articles were being sold so cheaply that no merchant marketing British goods could compete. It might be said that cheap goods were necessary at present, but the long view should bo taken, because if the low standard set by the Japanese became universal New Zealand’s present standards would go. New Zealand’s adverse balance in trade for ten months of this year was 50 per cent. Another member said the adverse balance over four years was not more than 10 per cent. He admitted that Japanese labour was cheap, but that difficulty could be surmounted if in assessing 'duty the depreciated yen were taken at par instead of at the bank rate of exchange. He pointed to the big preference in duty which British imports enjoyed over Japanese. The Chairman said the question was of great importance, but the chamber should know more about it before expressing a definite opinion.