BUTTER SHIPMENTS

Manawatu Standard, Volume L, Issue 303, 18 November 1930, Page 7

BUTTER SHIPMENTS

CANADIAN DUTIES. THE AORANGUS CONSIGNMENT, POSITION OF NEW ZEALAND PRODUCE. (United Press Association.—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) Received November 19, 5.30 a.m. OTTAWA, Nov. 17. While the Department of National Revenue has not immediate information regarding the appraisal for duty purposes of the Australian and New Zealand butter consignments which arrived by the Aorangi last week, it is stated that the Canadian tariff requires the imposition of dumping duties where the export value of the commodities shipped to Canada is lower than the domestic value in the country of origin. Since the operations of the Patterson Scheme, under which Australia enjoys a bounty, tend to bring Australian butter within the scope of the dumping clause, that dumping duty automatically applies. The duty is equivalent to the difference between the export and domestic prices in the country of origin, provided the difference does not exceed fifteen per cent, of the domestic price. New Zealand butter is now imported under a British preferential rate of eight cents a pound. The department lias no information that the export price of New Zealand is lower than the domestic price in New Zealand. Consequently, no occasion has risen for the imposition of a dumping duty against New Zealand. The departmental officials are inclined to believe that prima facie New Zealand exporters would have a certain advantage at present over Australian in spite of the fact that the duty under the Australian trade treaty provisions, apart from the dumping duty, is only one cent per pound, as against eight cents on New Zealand. AUSTRALIAN HAS ADVANTAGE. STATEMENT BY CUSTOMS COLLECTOR. Received November 18, 10.50 a.m. VANCOUVER, Nov. 17. “Australian butter has the advantage of at least four cents a pound over New Zealand,” the Collector of Customs, Mr George Allen, said today. “New Zealand is admitted under a British preference of eight cents a pound. Australian comes under the Australian trade treaty. It is taxed one cent, a pound, plus a dumping duty based on the domestic price in Australia. At present the dumping duty is three cents. Australian therefore pays four cents, against New Zealand’s eight,” Mr Allen said.