IMPORT BAN.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 16, 20 January 1939, Page 9

IMPORT BAN.

DE&ATERS' opinio**,

"That the restrictions imposed by the Government on imports was in the best interests of the fieople." was the subject of a debate at a meeting of the Progressive Debating Club last evening, presided over by Mt: W. 15ailey. in - the dub's nippting room, Pacific Building. Tlie leaders in the affirmative were Mr Becker, Mien Bell and .Mr. Swabev. i + % s J. rs - , F \ Harrison. H. Atulvil.ill and J. jjlcnap le<l in the lioiiatiw. It was contended by tlie affirmative that every Government was justified in regulatinir its internal and external trade, itnd that an extension in factory employees would Jesuit from people buying in their own market. Xew Zealand was Hooded with articles which rouid be made in her own factories, and it was absurd for a country to import wlirt she could produce herself. Importers were not producers, but were simply middlemen. who were concerned with profits, Jnd not with production. i'or the negative, it was contended that the restriction of impoits would further send iip the cost of living, and that already prices had been increased in certain lines. The Government had failed to realise that trade was a natural law, and that Restrictions always kejit up the "ttnde Wat" that set one country against another. It Was also pointed out that the Mctillin Government, in Australia had a similar ban many years ago. when the result, had been chaos, and the Governmeht wrecked. The taxation, which was phenomenally high at present, would h" ■^till further increased and would fall on those least able to beat it, namelv the workers. It was announced that a symposium would be held next meeting. ,vh°n an analysis of the educational systems "ttould be fiveft by tneflib§fs.