GAS COOKERS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18424, 9 December 1921, Page 2

GAS COOKERS

• ORDER-IN -COUNCIL. THE FULL STORU. MR STEWART EXPLAINS. (From Odr Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, December 8. During’ his speech on the third reading of the Tariff Bill this afternoon, the Hon. W. Downie Stewart, referring to the necessity for Orders-in-Council in connection with the tariff, told the full story of tho gas cooker incident, which created some public stir a lew months ago. ’Ho stated that during the recess, while the Tariff Commission was in the south they telegraphed to him that they had prima facie evidence that dumping was going on in connection with the gas cooker industry. They had secured invoices which showed that this was the case, and asked whether ho would authorise the immediate issue of an Order-in-Council to give them time to inquire into the position, and see whether there was any explanation of what appeared to bo a clear case of dumping. Accordingly an Order-in-Council was issued, not preventing tho importation of gas cookers as Had been stated, but requiring the consent of the Minister tor their importation. -They then cabled to their expert in England to visit the companies that were alleged to be dumping; and inquire why the prices were being fixed for Now Zealand with such a discrepancy as compared with England, -the matter was of great importance because of the coming on of the winter, and the possibility qf unemployment, there being a substantial industry in connection with gas cookers in New Zealand. In the meantime a campaign had been started in the press against him. 'lhe attack went on from one end of the dominion to the other, to show what that attack was worth, he would state what had happened when he went north a little later. The chief complaint against him had been from the Auckland Gas Company, and the directors sought an .interview with him. There was meeting at which tho complaints- against the Order-m-Council were voiced, and he then put his story before them. They had however asked that the conference should ho considered as private, and he was very was , private, because it was agreed that the action he had taken was right and proper. He had told the press that but tho press never admitted that it was wrong and the campaign continued/ He had also seen the importers in tho South Island, and they also had stated that the action he had token was right and proper, and that they had been misled by the press. Within a. few weeks the department had a cable from its expert in England explaining the position, and it was clear from his reply that for the future tho manufacturers would not sell their goods in such a way as to give rise to trouble. As soon as this had been settled, the Customs authorities had come to him and said that as the matter had been put right there was no further need for tho Order-in-Council but that if it were revoked there would probatoy be an outcry, and it would be stated that his hand bad been forced, and that, he had backed down. His reply was that he did not care what the press would sav he was satisfied that the Order-in-Council was no longer necessary, and it was accordingly revoked. Under similar ciroum•tenoe. be would do the same thing again Mr Stewart s remarks were made while he was defending the necessity for action by Urder-in-Council in connection with tariff cases that might arise in which prompt action was necessary.