THE DUMPING DANGER.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16530, 14 September 1921, Page 8

THE DUMPING DANGER.

THREAT FROM AUSTRALIA. EXPORT COMPANY FORMED. The possibility of Australian goodß being clumped into New Zealand is threatened in connection with tho formation of a company called the Australian Kxporis Ltd., of. Melbourne, which is to carry on the business of buying and selling agents for manufacturers and importers in the Commonwealth, New Zealand and elsewhere, of all articles, goods, materials, provisions, and products, and to extend and develop the export trade of Australian leather and leather goods in particular. Mr J. A, Frostick, from whom inquiries were made by a “ Star ” reporter to-day, stated that he had a copy of the articles of association. Said Mr Frostick, “it lias great possibilities for Australia, but it contains and element of danger for the people of this country, the object clearly is to get particular industries connected with the company, and for this dbiupany to handle surplus products of all the kinds described. All articles, goods, materials, provisions and products, whether or otherwise. Nothing is excluded, and whilst it provides that the company may trade within its own country yet the main object is to exploit other markets, so that one of the objects is by combination the more successfully- to compete with other countries, within the limits of ordinary trading. But it would lie an organisation for the purpose of keeping their own market firm, their own people fuliy employed, and unloading whatever surplus they might possess in New Zealand or elsewhere. “ No ordinary trading arrangements can compete with this. They not only aim at this kind of business, but also desire to be selling agents for New Zealand manufactured goods in other countries. A comparison between the Customs tariff in New Zealand as it stands to-day and that of Australia would show thqt under the duty the surplus products of manufactured goods, however well bought in New Zealand, could not be sold in Australia owing to prohibitive duties. There are to-day some goods in which, owing to the difference between the Australian market and the New Zealand market (over which the manufacturer has no control), the disadvantage to New Zealand has the effect of giving the Australians a free trade market in this country under our present duties. Tt is too big a subject to deal with in an interview, but the policy in Australia has been to exercise her lawful right to protect her own market. She has done so aud no one outside the country has any right to complain. “It is her inherent right of nationhood,” Mr Frostick added, “ but what is her right is our right a-lso. And it seems to me, especially with the evidence before us, as shown in .this new' movement, tltat we should see to it that nothing should be allowed to take place that would interfere with the right of any nation to the productive effort of its own people, and our first duty is to ourselves.” s