MOOTED AGREEMENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 181, 3 August 1933, Page 14

MOOTED AGREEMENTS.

COMPLEMENTARY INDUSTRIES "INJURIOUS PBOPOSALS." Statements made before the Tariff Commission as to mooted agreements between British and New Zealand industries were referred to in evidence to-day by Mr. John Hislop, chairman of the Auckland branch of the United Kingdom Manufacturers and New Zealand Representatives' Association. Mr. Hislop said his organisation was not interested in the evidence relating to Japanese competition beyond saying that if the secondary industries in New Zealand could purchase their raw materials from Japan of equal quality and at a lower price, then nothing in the world would prevent them doing so. "We are not in the least impressed with this supposed loyalty to British manufacturers," he added. "Our experience is that in the main there is little or no sentiment in international trade. "I would draw attention to, and enter our protest against, what Is referred to by Mr. A. E. Mander, of the New Zealand Manufacturers' Federation, as agreements between British and New Zealand industries, and we are going to ask the New Zealand Manufacturers' Federation, through Mr. Mander, to withdx-aw this evidence for the sake of the good name of the New Zealand manufacturers themselves. The proposals set forward are dangerous in the extreme, and we are ashamed to think that British manufacturers would so far forget their dignity, duty and high reputation the British industries have attained, as to give their support to such a policy. We trust, upon the examination of such agreements, which we see your commission have wisely suggested should be investigated, if you find the em-bodied are as suggested by the New Zealand Manufacturers' Federation, then for the protection of the community the commission should recommend the total abolition of tariffs against all goods of a similar nature from foreign countries." Professor B. E. Murphy said that the question as to whether any evidence could be withdrawn was not a matter for Mr. Mander or the manufacturers, but for the commission itself. Mr. Mander said Mr. Hislop was referring to evidence relating to agreements between complementary industries in the United Kingdom and New Zealand. It was a quotation from th"e report of the Imperial Economic Committee. "It is that report that makes you so indignant and ashamed," said Mr. Mander. Mr. Hislop: Whether the statement was issued by you or the Imperial Economic Committee, I take strong exception to the commission being asked to pay special attention to it. The subject was not pursued.