ALLEGATION OF DUMPING

Taranaki Daily News, 31 January 1930, Page 9

ALLEGATION OF DUMPING

MEAT TRADE IN AUSTRALIA CLAIM FOR PROTECTION CHARGE OF UNDERCUTTING By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright. Sydney, Jan. 30. “New Zealand has used Australia as a dumping ground for her surplus sheep tongues for years,” declared Mr. Reginald Nossitter, of the Colonial Wholesale Meat Company, Ltd., giving evidence before the Tariff Board which is inquiring into new duties on preserved meats and meat extracts. Mr. Nossitter said that New, Zealand had a large export trade in frozen mutton and lamb, and her by-products were sold wherever a market could be found, regardless of the cost. New Zealand was resorting to undercutting in Australia in order to secure sales,- and thus 2d per pound duty was insufficient to protect Australian packers. Witness added that there were approximately 19,000 cases of sheep tongues on the board at a period when there should be' nil. The prices for sheep accordingly had to be reduced in order to meet the fierce New Zealand competition, and pastoralists had to suffer. American and New’ Zealand competition in preserved meats was also felt in Australia. Mr. Nossitter advocated a duty of fid per pound. It was a fact also that New Zealand was selling corned beef in Sydney at a price below what it could profitably be sold for by local producers. The chairman of the Tariff Board reminded witness of the reciprocal arrangement already operative with New Zealand in regard to certain products, and of the danger of cancelling a preference to New Zealand where it had proved advantageous to the .Dominion. He pointed out that this could have only one result.

Witness answered that he had not considered that point of view. The inquiry was adjourned.