ANOTHER SOVIET MOVE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20779, 23 January 1931, Page 7

ANOTHER SOVIET MOVE.

DUMPING OF FURS.

CAMPAIGN IN BRITAIN.

HUGE SUPPLIES FOR EXPORT. An intensive Soviet campaign for the "dumping" of furs in Britain and other countries was described at a meeting, held in London a few weeks ago, representative of all branches of the fur trade of Great Britain.

It was stated that in addition to the j general method of exporting furs at j uneconomic and carefully regulated : prices, the Soviet had adopted the plan < of selling, through its agents, direct to \ small traders. A rumour was mentioned j of a scheme to cover Britain with retail j shops. i: As a result of the campaign London's T position as the fur skin market of the }! world is, in the opinion of the trade, ii being seriously menaced. "Although the quantity of dressed and dyed goods ■' which is being offered through these | agents is already creating concern and j disorganisation," said Mr. R. E. Groner, who presided, "it is as yet barely 10 ; per cent, of Russia's projected produc-. } ; tion." I,

War Against Rest of World. Hie meeting, which was convened by ' j the London lur Trade Association, was j attended by nearly 500 representatives ? of employers and workers. Resolutions | were passed with six dissentients expres- | sing alarm at the increasing importation of furs dressed and dyed in Soviet s Russia at. "prices calculated to j demoralise our markets, bankrupt British ! producers, increase unemployment, and || add to the burden of taxation"; and j authorising a request to the Prime Min- j, ister to receive a deputation with a view j' to obtaining the Government's help and | assistance.

Mr. Groner, in his speech, said that the Soviet Government were seeking to control the greater part of the world's fur supplies. It was one of their moves in a gigantic and wonderfully organised economic war against the rest of the world. " Do not," he said, " under-estimato the wonderful organisation of the Soviets. Although a vast part of Russia may be poverty-stricken and squalid, their new factories are the last word in efficiency, run by expert overseers lured by big wages from Germany and other, countries, and run on what virtually amounts to slave labour." Only Remedy a Ban. For ten years after the Revolution trapping and hunting in most parts of Russia and Siberia were almost entirely suspended and the increase in animal life had f)een very considerable. In the "Five Years' Plan" fur conservation had received careful study under the supreme control of the State.

Dressed and dyed skins were being offered below the price of the raw and these prices were subject to special allowances to cover the cost of import duties into countries protected ?>v tariffs. Soviet agents in London had refused to sell raw squirrels at Is 6d, while offering the same goods dressed and dyed at Is Id. Another parcel of 4000 squirrels for shipment to Australia were reduced on instructions from Is 9d to Is sd.

The situation, Mr. Groner concluded, was, too serious to be met by a tariff. Tiie only real help they could get was for the Government to put .1 ban on the importation of these dumped goods.