GOODS FROM BRITAIN.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 60, Issue 308, 5 October 1940, Page 8

GOODS FROM BRITAIN.

MINISTER ANSWERS CRITICISM. (Per Press Association). WELLINGTON, October 4. The assertion that it was correct to say that it was no good to New Zealand or to Great Britain for this Dominion to buy goods it could do without at present was made by the Minister for Finance (the Hon. W. Nash), in concluding the war finance debate in the House of [Representatives today, when replying to questions about imports from Britain. The point had been made earlier that Britain must maintain her exports unless her war effort was to suffer. “A positive instruction about import licences is that goods must be obtained from the United Kingdom if possible,” he said. At the same time, it was recognised by the United Kingdom Government that no good would be done by importing materials and articles not required l . Great Britain did not need to build up credits in Empire countries, but in other countries where she was buying armaments. Certain manufacturers in Great Britain wanted to find markets overseas, and were urging countries overseas to buy, he. said. Some New Zealanders formerly importing non-essentials still wanted'to import them. The answer, however, was clear. Every penny New Zealand had from the sale of her produce in Great Britain, less the amount required to meet cominitments, was made available for import licences.