BRITISH TRADE WITH N.Z.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 68, Issue 136, 20 March 1948, Page 5

BRITISH TRADE WITH N.Z.

Exports Will Be Maintained “SUPPLIES TO LIMIT OF IMPORT LICENCES’' (N.Z.P.A -Copyright!. LONDON. March IS. The President of Ihe Board of Trade (Mr. J. Harold Wilson), in reply to questions submitted to . him to-day by the special correspondents of the New Zealand Press Association, E. C. Webber and A. W. Mitchell, said: “Britain does not intend or desire to reduce her exports to New Zealand except in certain marginal cases. She is already doing her best to give priority to New Zealand’s essential requirements, and subject to the limiations of her capacity and the need to sell to certain hard currency areas, she is allowing British, exporters to supply Now Zealand orders to the limit of the import licences available.”

Questions and his answers, asked of Mr Wilson, follow. In view of the dollar shortage, and the necessity for Britain to increase her exports to the hard currency areas, does the Board of Trade desire to reduce the volume of British exports to New Zealand and the other sterling Dominions ?--As you know, we are having discussions with the New Zealand supply mission in London at the present time on this question. We are trying to see how far, over and above what we are already doing, we can help New Zealand' to switch from dollar supplies to get the things, she wants here. Does Britain want to reduce the volume of her exports to New Zealand?— No. We do not intend or desire to reduce our exports to New Zealand, except in certain marginal cases where there are particular goods which could be earning dollars to-day, but which may not be essential to the economies of the countries in question.

Priority for Essentials

If the Board of Trades does not desire to reduce British exports to New Zealand, is it giving priority to essential New Zealand requirements which cannot- lie obtained elsewhere? —We are doing our best in every single case, and the New Zealand Government has not been backward in bringing forward individual cases in which itf wants help. For instance, we have had a number of discussions about heavy electrical plant, and supplies of this equipment ordered by New Zealand have not been cut in order to suit our bilateral agreements with other countries. Nor, indeed, do we intend that they should be. We have been very careful, in making our agreements with Russia and Argentina, for instance to see that they do not interfere with our supplies to the Dominions. What general priority is the Board of Trade giving* United Kingdom exports lo the hard currency areas?— We do not work in ibis way. We have no ‘league table’ for priorities. We do nave to allow special treatment for such hard currency countries as Canada, ihe United Slates, and Argentina, and. to a certain extent South Africa, but it does not amount to absolute priority in every case. As a matter of fact, there is a considerable temptation for our manufacturers to send their goods to the Dominions, which they regard as their traditional markets, in preference to. say, the United States. New Zealand is one of these traditional markets.

N.Z. Import Restrictions

is the Board of Trade allowing Bri. fish exporters with long standing markets in New Zealand to supply them to the limit of the import licences available?—Yes, subject to the limitations of our capacity and to the requirements of the four hard currency countries mentioned. For instance, we could not allow. Imperial Chemical Industries to meet New Zealand’s requirements for soda ash to tire full extent to which New Zealand was prepared to issue import licences. The same thing is true of textiles. The general textile requirements of overseas countries are so great that we could not meet New Zealand’s needs in particular. Commenting generally, Mr Wilson said it was the general aim that New Zealand should as far as possible live within their current income in the matter of imports. By and large, however, there should be no 'limitation upon the extent to which British exporters should meet orders from New Zealand within the bounds laid down by New Zealand’s own import restrictions. Asked whether Britain would consider extending the hulk food contracts beyond the present term of two to four years, Mr Wilson said: “We have indicated our willingness to make longer term agreements with anyone who can fill our requirements. That does not mean, however, that we could fix longer contracts at the prices ruling to-day.” Mr Wilson said Hint the suggestion that Dominion primary produce such as blitter, which would earn dollars, might he sold lo America to assist the general sterling area dollar pool, had been raised at Hie recent Commonwealth financial talks, but had not been proceeded with.