"FADDY."

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 184, 7 August 1933, Page 5

"FADDY."

OVERSEAS ORDERS.

DOMINION REQUIREMENTS.

HINDRANCES TO TRADE ?.

A suggestion that New Zealand was particularly "faddy" in its requirements from overseas was contained in a letter received from the Wellington Chamber of Commerce by the council of the Canterbury Chamber (states the "Christcinirch Times"). The questionvcame up for discussion in correspondence dealing with the hindrances to trade which were stated to exist by reason of the large numbers of certificates that are required in connection with the export of certain goods. In reply to a letter from the chamber regarding the matter the acting Minister of Industries and Commerce, the Hon. J. G. Cobbe, stated that it concerned a number of Government Departments, and after consulting with them he would communicate further with the chamber.

The secretary of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce advised that the council of the chamber had affirmed its support in principle to the aim towards simplification of export certificates.

"When looking into this matter," he added, "I was told that overseas New Zealand was considered particularly 'faddy' in. its requirements, not only as regards certificates, but also in other directions. One, of course, cannot judge this fairly without knowing what other countries demand; but it would seem that any country that carries its tariff to any detail cannot very well avoid departures from simplification. New Zealand Criticised. "New Zealand, I am informed, conies in for criticism overseas in other directions, such as its varying requirements as to sizes of woolpacks and corn sacks; Australia is quoted to me as having standardised on practically one size of wool pack and the Indian mills can according];®' in slack times always make

up stocks of this standard. But they are never sure what the next ordef from New Zealand will specify, and, like any other trader, they do not seek to ha.ve stock on their shelves tliat is not readily realisable within a reasonable time. I understand something of the same natuie is applicable to the manufacture of basic slag and other fertilisers—New Zealand s requirements sometimes differing from a mill 'run'." The Auckland chamber forwarded a copy of a letter it bad written to the Associated Chambers following on the representations from the Canterbury chamber. The letter stated that a member of the Auckland chamber had suggested that it should not be difficult to°°secure international agreement to enable one certificate in English and one in French to be sufficient for all countries. , The Dunedin, Ashburton, Gore, Hastings, Hamilton and South Canterbuiy chambers wrote endorsing the attitude taken up by the Canterbury Chamber.

Choice of Examples. Mr. W. Machin said the Wellington chamber seemed to be a bit unfortunate in its choice of examples. He would like to know on what evidence the statement was made that New Zealand, had varying requirements in regard to cornsacks. °He had never heard of such variety. "It seems to me,' he added, "that it is something in the nature ot a red herring, though I've never heard of a red-herring in the form of a coinsack. 5 * Mr. H. S. E. Turner said that the complaint that New Zealand was "faddy" should come from someone who was suffering from it. He suggested that it was a matter on which the council could co-operate with the London Chamber of Commerce. He did not think there was sufficient evidence to show whether New Zealand was "faddy" or not. Mr. V E. Hamilton said it should be made'clear that if anyone was "faddy it was not the importers, but the Government. . . , , Mr. Machin expressed the opiuion that the letter from the Wellington chamber was rather unworthy of a sister chamber The s'zes of woolpacks and cornsacks had nothing to do with the question of export certificates. Mr. Turner moved that the council seek the co-operation of the London Chamber of Commerce in regard to the question. _ e. The motion was carried,