GOODS FROM JAPAN

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21576, 22 August 1933, Page 11

GOODS FROM JAPAN

p CASE AGAINST DUTIES VALUE OF RETURN TRADE DISCRIMINATION OPPOSED The case against discriminatory duties on Japanese goods was submitted to the Tariff Commission yesterday by Mr. A. 1?. Phillips, managing director of New Zealand Distributors, Limited. Mr. Phillips stated that his firm represented one of tho largest business and financial institutions in Japan. This institution was interested not only in tho export of a wide range of goods to New Zealand, but in the purchase of wool, tallow, hides, butterand dairy produce. He could state authoritatively that large orders for New Zealand wool for delivery next year were in suspense until it was known whether New Zealand had decided to impose discriminatory duties against Japanese goods. If such duties wero introduced, said the witness, the orders would undoubtedly bo cancelled. According to his advices, Japanese trading interests considered that tho national honour was involved in tho matter. There was no question that in the event of tariff discrimination Japaneso buying in New Zealand would bo greatly curtailed. Japanese interests were greatly concerned over press cablegrams that had passed recently, and wero eagerly awaiting the outcome of tho present inquiry. Friendly Relations Urged In the course of a statement upon Japanese trade and industry, Mr. Phillips made a strong plea for friendly commercial relations. "I submit that it is tho wisest policy," ho said, not only for New Zealand and the Empire, but for tho rest of the world also, to help Japan to get rich. Our principals wish me to impress upon tho people of New Zealand that Japan is bound to become the most important market for New Zealand products in view of her growing population and the rising standard of living. I have not the least doubt that the wise public of this country will not fail to realise which side of its bread is buttered." Japan bought from Britain only slightly less than she sold to that country. There was no evidence that Japanese manufacturers were selling their goods in New Zealand at a 10turn to themselves lower than the return they were getting on the sale of the same goods in Japan. All the evidence was to the contrary. "The manufacturers of Japan are providing tho Japanese people with the finest value in manufactured goods in the world to-dav, and are doing so at a reasonable rate of profit," he said. Export trade in manufactured goods was vital to Japan's national existence. _ The figures showed that trade restriction between Now Zealand and Japan would hurt New Zealand more than it would hurt Japan. This country should be guided by the trade negotiations that would undoubtedly take place between Great Britain and Japan. It was not a lower but a different standard of living that prevailed in Japan. The whole system of Japaneso life was simpler and more laborious than ours at every social level. Good craftsmanship, trained technique, skilled organisation, elaborato factories and favourable exchange formed tho combination that enabled the Japanese manufacturer to compete effectively in the world's markets. Trade with Czecho-Slovakia

Mr. Phillips asked for the abolition of the surtax on Japanese canvas shoes and gum-boots, which were a necessity in this country. "Lamentations about the unfairness of Japanese competition are useless," ho said. "To fight it means a terrible hammering for both sides and an issue far from certain. Tho best course is peaco negotiation. We must at all costs keep friends with Japan." Representations on behalf of the Czecho-Slovak Chamber of Commnrco for Australia were submitted by Mr. G. Jackson in the interest of a renewal of trade between New Zealand and Czecho-Slovakia. The chamber asked the commission to consider evolving some practicable method of varying customs duties imposed under tho New Zealand tariff against imports of Czecho-Slovakian manufacture by tho incidence of exchange. It asked also for an adjustment of tho present disparity between tho British preferential and general rates of duties, and protested against tho application for .specific duties in place of straight-out ad valorem duties. Floor Coverings and Oak Mr. H. T. Merritt asked for the removal or substantial reduction of the duties upon British-made carpets, rugs and composition-backed rubber flooring. He asked that the present duties on Australian rubber flooring be retained, on account of the exchange advantage it enjoyed. Mr. Merritt also proposed a reduction in the duty on Japanese oak for furniture making. He said that in recent years tho duty had been raised from 2s to lis per 100 ft. The timber was becoming scarce in Japan and the domestic price was rising to such an extent that the landed cost was becoming almost prohibitive. Mr. F. G. Mumford, on behalf of General Theatre Supplies, Limited, asked for a 40 per cent reduction of duty upon projectors and spare parts, not including sound equipment.