JAPANESE IMPORTS

Northern Advocate, 15 December 1932, Page 7

JAPANESE IMPORTS

LOW STANDARD ALLEGED. COMMITTEES TO REPORT. (Special to “Northern Advocate.”) AUCKLAND, This Day. The Chamber of Commerce today 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 he said cheap goods were necessary at present, but the long view should be taken, because if the low standard set by the Japanese became universal New Zealand’s present standards would go. The Dopiiniou’s adverse balance in trade for the leu months of this year was nO per cent. Another member said the adverse balance over four years was not more than 10 per cent. Ho admitted Japanese labour was cheap, but that difficulty could be surmounted if, in assessing the duty, the depreciated yen were taken at par instead of at bank rate of exchange. He pointed to the big preference in duties 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.