DUMPING OF STOCKINGS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21100, 6 February 1932, Page 2 (Supplement)

DUMPING OF STOCKINGS.

CONTINENT TO BRITAIN. FIFTY THOUSAND PAIRS. Continental dumpers rushed 50.000 pairs of "silk stockings to the British market in the second week of December, j By sending them with unsewn seams ! the dnmpers avoided tho new 50 per j cent. duty. Tho stockings were accepted by the customs authorities as silk tissue, and paid duty by weight instead of by value. These stockings were specially woven so that they can lie joined quickly and inexpensively before being put on tho retail market. These are the most expensive type of stockings, costing from £1 Is to £2 2s a paii - . Experts estimated that the loss to the revenue would be not loss than £IO,OOO. Continental manufacturers have been quick to seize on the flaw in the regulations. They have now extended their activities to silk lingerie. Thousands of pounds' worth of women's silk underwear went into Britain with seams unstitched and escaped tho 50 per cent, duty. British silk manufacturers are pressing the> Government for immediate action. An official at the Board of Trade said that the matter was under consideration, but difficulty had arisen in framing an order which would carry out tiie spirit as well as tho letter of the anti-dumping Act, without imposing additional tax on articles not dealt with in the schedule.