REDUCING PREFERENCE TO AUSTRALIAN GOODS

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6633, 21 August 1931, Page 6

REDUCING PREFERENCE TO AUSTRALIAN GOODS

Dumping Duty Suggested

EFFECT ON EXCHANGE RATES

Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Last Night. A suggestion to ask tho Government what was the position of tho trade agreement with Australia, with a view to its cancellation or revision, was made at a conference of the Manufacturers’ Federation to-day. It was urged that, in tho interests of New Zealand and United Kingdom manufacturers, the incidence of the preference to Australian manufacturers, as compared with United Kingdom manufacturers, should be adjusted to the same comparative basis as existed prior to the tariff revision operative from July 23, 1930. It was pointed out that the exchange between Now Zealand and Australia and between New Zealand and London had a good deal to do with the matter. Mr. Jcfferys (Dunedin) urged that tho manufacturers of New Zealand had a right to enjoy tho protection laid down in the Customs tariff.

On the motion of Mr. Jcfferys, seconded by Mr. F. L. Hutchinson (Christchurch) it was resolved: “That it would be in the best interests of the Dominion wore the Customs Department to impose on goods received from the Australian Commonwealth, with the exception of those goods which are not produced in New Zealand, a dumping duty equal to the amount of the exchange premium obtained.”

A sub-committee is further to consider the matter and report to the execu tive after the conference.