HIGHER DUTY URGED

Hawera Star, Volume XLIX, 30 January 1930, Page 5

HIGHER DUTY URGED

PROTECTION FOR PACKERS 9 AUSTRALIAN MEAT INDUSTRY Qt •> “NEW ZEALAND’S DUMPING GROUND.” (Unit-eu Press Association—By Electric Telegraph copyright.! Received 11.15 a.m. to-day. SYDNEY, Jan. 80. “New Zealand has used Australia as a clumping ground for her surplus siieeps’ tougues for years,” decilaired! Mr Reginald Nossiter, of the Colonial Wholesale Meat Company, Ltd,, in giving evidence before the Tariff Board, which is inquiring into fh® new duties on preserved meats and meat extracts in Sydney. Mr Nossiter said that New Zealand had a large export trade in frozen mutton and ramb, and her by-products were so!,d wherever a market could be found and regardless of the oost, resorting to undercutting hero in order to secure sales. Thus 2d ‘per lb duty was- insufficient to protect Australian packers. Witness added that there were approximately 10,000 cases of sheeps’ tongues on hand at a period when there should be nil. Prices for sheep, accordingly. had to he reduced) in order to meet the fierce New Zealand competiton, and pastonailists had) to suffer. American and New Zealand l competition in preserved meats was also felt in Australia.

Mr Nossiter advocated a 'duty of 6d per pound. It was iai fact also that New Zealand was selling corned beef in Sydney below what it oouldi profitably be sold by the local producers. The chairman of the Tariff Board reminded! witness of the recnprooal arrangement already in operation with New Zealand in regard to certain products and of the danger of cancelling preference to New Zealand where it had proved advantageous to the Dominion. He pointed out that this could have only one result. Witness answered that, he ban not considered that point of view.