Japanese Goods

Are They Given Preference By N.G. Administration?

A STATEMENT, that tenders were re cently accepted by the New Guinea Administration for articles of Japan ese manufacture at a fraction of 1 per cent less than the cost at which the Australian article could be supplied was made by Sir Charles Marr in the House on Representatives on May 5.

He asked the Minister in Charge of Territories to lay down a policy for the Administration of preference to British goods with particular preference for goods’ of Australian manufacture.

The Minister said he had no know ledge of the contract mentioned, but he would investigate.

EDITORIAL NOTE: It is to be hoped that this incident will not be glossed over and forgotten, as is the official manner. It is a monstrous thing that Japanese goods should be directly admit ted, in this way, to Territories controlled by Australia. Rabaul officials should be asked to find out what quantity of Aus tralian goods are admitted by the Jap anese to the Caroline and Marshall Is lands.

The admission of Japanese goods to Australia can be regulated by a tariff, which takes the respective standards of living conditions into account: but that is not possible in New Guinea, where the tariff is entirely on an ad valorem basis.

Mrs. M, R. V. Chetty died in Suva, Fiji, early in April. She was well-known in the Colony as the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Nittu, of Labasa.