NATION'S NEEDS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 61, Issue 49, 7 December 1940, Page 6

NATION'S NEEDS

CONSERVING RESOURCES.

GREATEST ECONOMY URGED.

DOMINION AND BRITAIN.

(Per Press Association). WELLINGTON, This Day

A telegram relating to import control has been received from the United Kingdom for publication and has been released by the Government. It says: “The effective prosecution of the war, which is the principal aim of both Governments, calls for the most careful conservation of financial resources and of productive capacity in order that they may be devoted as fully as possible to the war effort. The heavy and increasing demand the war is making on the gold and dollar resources of the Empire necessitates the greatest economy, not only in the direction of dollar purchases by Empire countries, but also in the importation of goods the manufacture of which is based on raw materials that have been purchased in dollars. “In addition to the question of finance there is need for adopting productive capacity as fully as possible to the requirements of the war effort. Generally speaking, the resources of the Empire countries are becoming fully employed, and the extension of the war effort demands the diversion of labour, plant, and productive capacity from activities which do not directly increase their strength for the war. Trus, increasing claims the war is making on the financial and productive resources of the Empire call for a policy which, while avoiding undue dislocation and hardship, will secure the necessary restriction of production and consumption of non-essential goods. Steps have already been taken in the United Kingdom to this end, more, especially by the limitation and reduction of skies and the consumption of many classes of consumer goods.” “It might at first appeajr inconsistent with the object of the United Kingdom’s export drive that New Zealand should restrict imports from this country, but it must be recognised that developments of the war situation, necessitate a more selective policy in regard to export trade. “Subject "to the above considerations, we w*ould ask that New Zealand should continue to meet her essential requirements as far as possible from the United Kingdom when they can be most economically supplied from that source; that the restriction of non-es-sential imports from the United Kingdom should be accompanied by (equivalent economies in New Zealand's consumption ; that undue dislocation should not be caused to United Kingdom industry which depends to aii important extent on the New Zealand market; and that the long term position of the United Kingdom as a supplier of manufactured goods to New Zealand should be safeguarded. “We appreciate the steps the (New Zealand Government has taken and is taking to direct purchases as fay as possible to the United Kingdom and are still anxious to sunply New Zealand with her necessary requirements of goods which can be manufactured in the United Kingdom without detriment to the common war effort. It is easier to lay down on broad lines a policy that would determine their practical application to individual cases. The working of the New Zealand Government’s comprehensive system of import Regulations must necessarily give rise from, time to time to some difficult questions affecting United Kingdom trade interests. We hope that such questions can he settled satisfactorily in, consultation between the two Governments.”