IMPORT REGULATIONS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 15, 19 January 1939, Page 10

IMPORT REGULATIONS.

MR. NASH AND CO4)PERATION. j (To the Editor.) "Peaceful Negotiator" suggest* negotiation 'between the Government and business men % as the best means of bringing about an understanding over the import regulations. Your correspondent "J. 8.5." also preaches co-opera-tion, but in a Jess rational manner. It should be widely known that the Associated Chambers of Commerce of New Zealand, a month before tb% regulations were gazetted, sought a conference with Mr. Nash to assist him ip remedying the external exchange position. Business men volunteered their assistance because they were apprehensive of the hardship which would accrue to all sections of the community if the exchange position was allowed to deteriorate further. Mr. Naah ? refused to accept the voluntary service of public-spirited men, and then promptly passed ' a hotch-potch of regulations which show a ' lamentable lack of knowledge of the intricate workings of our import system. It speaks volumes for our business men (some of them'.! have had the work of a lifetime wiped out;J overnight by a stroke of the bureaucrat's pen), that they are still prepared to negotiate peacefully with the Minister through the medium ' of a conference arranged by the Associated Chambers of Commerce. It shows that business men have a public spirit which is consistently denied them by their political v ; opponents. Should the importers, through their bureau, by constitutional, even if unusull, means seek to right a flagrant injustice, can we upbraid them? Perhaps a sit-down strike would be more in keeping with the times. B. H. KINGSTON. The Government at this time is looking for constructive criticism, but th% letter signed "Not an Importer" is merely destructive and endeavours to blame Mr. Nash for not foreseeing the disloyalty of some folk who endeavoured to embarrass the Government, supported by forces in London which have received a severe setback, according to recent Press reports. We all regret the necessity for hasty legislation, and I, in common with others, will await the result of the conference in Wellington and the reply by Mr. Nash to the questions raised for interpretation. The •hiccups" are usually associated with intemperance, and what we desire more than ever is temperate co-operation without those unpleasant after-effects. PEACEFUL NEGOTIATOR.