RUSSIAN EMBARGO.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXIV, Issue 809, 8 July 1933, Page 8

RUSSIAN EMBARGO.

“ Purely Political,” Says Professor. MANUFACTURER’S REQUEST. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, July 7. On behalf of the Association of British Chemical Manufacturers Mr F. W. Manton, director of Mills and Manton, Ltd., Wellington, before the Tariff Commission this afternoon asked that a duty of 15 per cent be imposed on a number of chemical lines from foreign countries. lie said the main competition came from Japan and Russia, and he had been instructed by his principals to request the Commission seriously to consider imposing an embargo on Russian products. Professor Murphy: Why Russia, and not Japan? Is it a political reason? Mr Manson: I don’t know. Professor Murphy: You should know. Mr Manton: I am not in a position to judge. Professor Murphy: You come, here and make representations and then repudiate responsibility. Can you offer any explanation why your principals ask for an embargo against Russia and not against Japan? Mr Manton: No, I cannot. Professor Murphy (to Dr Craig) : It is purely political, this Russian business. Mr Manton also asked that a duty should be imposed on foreign caustic soda, the main competition for which came from Russia. Dr Craig: Don’t you get competition from the United States? Mr Manton: Not so much in the last few years. They call their product lye. Effect of Exchange. Professor Murphy: Did exchange put them off the market? Mr Manton: I think it had something to do with it. Professor Murphy: It is likely to come back now with depreciation of the dollar. Mr Manton: It may. Mr W. M. Robson, manager of the machinery department of Levin and Co., Wellington, asked for the removal of the duty' of 25 per cent on British Diesel oil engines of under 800 revolutions a minute. He said that these engines were mainly used on dairy and sheep farms and were not suitable for transport purposes. Professor Murphy: Do your principals assume that the whole of exchange is protective to our industries? If they do they are barking up the wrong tree. Witness: I quite appreciate that. The Commission adjourned until tomorrow, when a statement will be presented on behalf of the New Zealand Sheepowners and Farmers’ Federation.