SILK GOODS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19625, 20 October 1933, Page 2

SILK GOODS

JAPANESE COMPETITION. By Telegraph—Press Association WELLINGTON, October 18. “British industry in general contends that the basic explanation of the increase of Japanese exports at the expense of United Kingdom exports is the existing conditions of hours and wages in Japanese industry,” st..ted. part of the case presented to-day to the Tariff Commission on behalf of the Silk Association of Great Britain and Ireland. Japanese competition, wheth-r described as fair or unfair, was only possible because of the conditions of longer hours and lower wages, which conditions were not tolerated in the United Kingdom. Any reduction of United Kingdom operatives, it was mentioned, would result in diminishing the purchasing power of United Kingdom customers for New Zealand lamb, wool, and dairy produce. Three submissions were made to the commission on behalf of the Whisky Association of the United Kingdom, as follows: (1) That the commision recomment a substantial decrease in the existing spirit duty of 40/- a proof gallon, and reversion to a rate of duty more nearly approximating to 18/- a proof gallon, which was in vogue until 1921; (2) that the mode of assessing duty on Scotch or Irish whisky be on the basis of the actual strength, in relation to proof gallon, or alternatively that in assessing the duty the arbitrary limitation of strength to 16.5 degrees less than proof, now imposed, be amended to 25 degrees less than proof: (3) that whisky be not imported unless it be of five-year maturity.