Foreign Goods in New

Guinea

Letter to the Editor.

SOME little time back, certain Austra lian shipping firms engaged in Island service, appealed for patriotic preference, against N.D.L. and foreign lines. It may be appropriate to scrutinise those particu lar firms’ patriotism. Recently, I received a supply of trade goods from one of the two main firms in Rabaul, which con tained: Axes from Sweden; matches from China.

Prints—Japan; knives —Germany.

Trade meats —Argentine; tobacco — America.

Torches, batteries, bulbs—China.

Mirrors, mouth organs, razors—Ger many.

Singlets, cardigans—Japan.

Hurricane lamps—Germany; rice— China.

Cigarette papers—Austria.

Enamel plates and bowls —China.

Bicycles—Japan; locks —Germany.

Pipes—China; onions—Japan.

Sandshoes—China.

Cement—Japan.

Motor tyre and tube—Japan. §cent, cold cream, and face powder— China.

I seem to remember an old adage about ‘ people living in glass houses.”

I am, etc..

Buy British.

New Guinea, June 18, 1935.

Editorial Note

Our correspondent makes a good point, but he is not quite fair to the merchants.

The latter may be good patriots, but they are not in business as philanthropists.

There is plenty of competition in Pacific Islands trade; and the big firms of distri butors thereby are compelled, irrespec tive of their feelings, to buy in the cheap est market. All the goods enumerated above come from cheap labour countries, which can always underquote Australia, with its high standard of living. It has been suggested, repeatedly, that there should be imposed in New Guinea a tariff which will give a preference to British goods; and we believe that this proposal is supported by the big firms operating in New Guinea.