DUMPING CHARGE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21992, 29 June 1933, Page 8

DUMPING CHARGE

JAPANESE COMPETITION AUSTRALIA'S POLICY. (Fkom Our Own Correspondent.) SYDNEY, June 22. It is clear that the Federal Government is not going to be stampeded into action following somewhat vague but insistent charges that Japanese goods are being dumped on to the Australian market to the detriment of British and local industries. At the same time it is not taking any risks, and a special investigation of the position is now being made into the allegations. On Saturday the Prime Minister (Mr Lyons) visited Ipswich, in Queensland, the centre of a large woollen industry, and at a public meeting he was questioned several times about the " menace 'of Japanese dumping." This gave lnm the opportunity of making his first public statement on the question. Mr Lyons said that there was ample power under the Industry Preservation Act to protect Australia against dumpin"- by any nation should the need arise. It "had to be remembered that Australia had no discriminatory tariff against Japan or any other country. Those who "were so eager to direct attention to Japanese trade were either ignorant of, or purposely ignored, the fact that Japan was one of Australia's best customers. The people should remember that. When they talked of maintaining living standards in Australia they should remember that if Japan and some of Australia's other customers were not buying such a big portion of the wool clip, the standard of living of the Australian woolgrower would be very much" lower than it was to-day. They had to examine the question from the standpoint of international trade. Australian industries, if they were to be maintained, had no right to be compelled to compete with industries indulging in dumping. Therefore, whatever the country concerned the Government would investigate the position and act accordingly. The Minister for Customs (Mr White) said that the people should not be led astray by unofficial reports. The Government was being kept informed from London of the real position as far as Japanese trade was concerned. Much depended upon what emerged from the discussions at the Economic Conference, where the Japanese delegate has indicated that his country favoured a better economic understanding between the nations. Australian duties were all levied against goods and not against countries. In the administration of the tariff he had been at pains to ensure that no credence was placed upon general statements of wholesale dumping of Japanese goods on the Australian market. He had asked that any manufacturers or others, who had special knowledge of dumping, should communicate with him and furnish detailed evidence in support of their claims.