DUMPING IN AFRICA

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 11 February 1933, Page 3

DUMPING IN AFRICA

CHARGES AGAINST JAPAN BRITISH MERCHANTS’ FEARS Manchester merchants doing business with British East and West Africa are becoming more and more concerned over what they describe as “the wholesale dumping’ ’of Japanese goods into those countries to “the gradual elimination of our own trade there.” It is commonly stated that about 40 per cent, of the Japanese production of cotton goods is being disposed of abroad at prices much below actual cost, low as that is in Japan, and that this is made possible by the high prices charged on the remaining 60 per cent, sold at lionn In tile first nine months of last year 10,000,000 of the 14,000,000 yards of unbleached cotton goods imported by Kenya, more than half of the 2,300,000 yards of bleached cotton goods, 3,500.000 of the 3,900,000 yards ■ of printed cotton goods, and 843,000 of the 954,000 yards of artificial silk were from Japan. Yesterday a Manchester merchant trading with East Africa drew attention to an announcement that one of the latest, vessels to arrive at Lagos, in Nigeria, landed 1100 bales of Japanese cotton goods. “It would be interesting to know,” lie proceeded, “what our Government proposes to do about this. It looks as though we in this country are being taxed in order that we mav keep opr African markets open as dumping grounds for Japanese goods. Our own trade is rapidly disappearing and will soon go altogether if nothing be done. If these places were French colonies it would not take 24 hours to stop this dumping. It would be rccepted at once as a case for absolute prohibition. . “Under existing circumstances it .s simplv impossible for us to compete with'Japan. In Japan they are .still working the two-shift system. The girls live in" compounds and work 12 hours a day. One set of machinery does for two girls, and so does each bed. They "et threepence a day as wages and can buy for three-halfpence a pair of straw shoes which will last about a month. That is why we arc able to buy from Japan white cotton singlets delivered on board steamer in Liverpool at 2s Jl a dozen, and that includes packing, freight), profits, and placing on the steamer for West African and other ports. How can wo. compote against this? , .. “And it is not. only for out’ cotton trade that we arc fearing. The Japanese are ail enterprising people, ready Jo explore every avenue. South Wales tor Ion" was the only place where liglugalvanised steel sheets could be made. The Continental mills were unanle to roll them so light. But the Japanese have succeeded, and as a. consequence South Wales has had to start rolling them lighter still. . . , “Some measures must he devised, and quickly, 1)V our Government- to protect its own industries and markets. Ibis is no case for tariffs. The quota system might lie. useful, however, in bringing Japan to face the desirability of coming to agreemeiU lo take an oqnivalon amount of onv manufactured goods for those we and one colonies -take from her. At present she takes next to nothing.”