Furs New Button

Industry

Protection Sought Against Japan

SUVA, Sept. 20.

MR. W. G. McCOWN, of Pacific Pearl Shell Products, Levuka, Fiji, reported early September that his trochus button factory, re cently established there, has just turned out its millionth button. Mr.

McCown was in Suva taking de livery of the polishing machinery that had arrived from overseas. So far no buttons have been polished, pending arrival of this equipment.

Commenting on overseas com petition, Mr. McCown said that British button-factory owners had evidence that Japanese buttons were being smuggled in through Hong kong. There is an 80% import tax against Japanese buttons entering British territories, but no tax against British-made Hongkong buttons. It is clear that the equip ment available at the three Hong kong factories could not possibly turn out the quantity of buttons that was currently being exported from that island. British buttoners were naturally keen to see this leak plugged, said Mr. McCown.

Mr. McCown said that his com pany was negotiating with the Fiji

Government to limit the export of trochus, and to fix the local price at a level equal to the average of the last five years. Overseas buyers were currently offering high prices for Fiji trochus. He claims that this new Fiji industry should be given some protection against foreign competition.

Mr. McCown’s company is als«? protesting to the Australian Fedf eral Government, in the strongesg terms, against the latter’s action iu permitting Japan to fish shell in Australian continental-shelf waters- He argues that Japanese competii tion in the world button trade ii not fair competition.