CANADA WATCHING.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 32, 8 February 1939, Page 21

CANADA WATCHING.

IMPORT CONTROL SCHEME. DISCRIMINATION FEARED. (From Our Own Correspondent.) MONTREAL, January 13. Local businessmen as well as the Federal Department of Trade and Commerce are watching closely the effects of the New Zealand Government's prohibition of imports except by license, according .to officials of the Montreal Board of Trade.

Details of the new regulations were contained in a letter from Mr. W. F. Bull, Canadian Trade Commissioner in New Zealand, published in the current issue of the Commercial Intelligence Journal. New Zealand's action was taken, it waa pointed out, as a means of conserving London credit balances to meet debt payments. What trouble* Canadian businessmen most is not the action of the New Zealand Government in imposing its regulations, but the possibilities of discrimination entering into their application*. For example, said an official of the Board of Trade to-day, the New Zealand Government might decide" to refuse a license for certain importatione of, say women's wear from Canada, while admitting such goods from British exporters. A New Zealand businessman now in Montreal, while refusing to be quoted, said that he waa completely at a loss as to what to do. He came to Canada early laet December to place good order* for some merchandise, and had been impressed with certain lines. However, he said that he was not disposed to make any purchases now until tho assurance could be received that he would obtain a license to import them. So far, he eaid, his cabled inquirien to New Zealand had not produced any definite assurances.

During the year that ended last June 30, Canada's exports to New Zealand amounted to £4,125,000. It is feared that a drop in Canadian trade will result from the import licensing plans in fore* in New Zealand,