IMPORTS FROM BRITAIN

Press, Volume LXXX, Issue 24367, 20 September 1944, Page 3

IMPORTS FROM BRITAIN

NEW ZEALAND’S POLICY AFTER THE WAR STATEMENT SOUGHT FROM GOVERNMENT ' (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Sept. 19. A request for an early statement of the Government’s policy with respect to trade with Great Britain after the war was made by a deputation from the United Kingdom Manufacturers’ and New Zealand '• Representatives’ Association, which waited oft the Minister of Customs (the Hon. W. Nash) on Monday. The members of the deputation were Messrs W. A. Simpson (president), J. Matthews (past president), and E. A. Hollins, a member of the council of the association! Mr Simpson said that orders were already being received in Britain from various markets for post-war delivery and it was hoped that the New Zealand Government- would give some indication to importers regarding its post-war ideas and thereby facilitate the forward placing of orders. An - early indication of the Government’s policy would ,place importers on an equal footing with their counterparts in other countries, and would also enable the industries now tooled up for war requirements to plan peace--time production. Mr Matthews said that it was imperative that, as far as was practicable, United Kingdom manufacturers should be placed in a position to plan their production. Great Britain had always treated New Zealand extremely generously and there was every reason to believe that she would continue to do so, but to ensure that she was not placed in an embarrassing position regarding the allocation of quotas and priorities for this market, New Zealand should as far as was practicable determine and make 1 known its requirements of essential consumer goods and services. An Important Factor It was the association’s considered' opinion that the most important factor was recognition of the basic principle that reciprocal trade between New Zealand and Great Britain was a measure of our prosperity. The necessity for assisting Great Britain to develop her post-war export trade must be recognised. 1 M[r Hollins said it was suggested that the Government and its advisers should, among other things, secure estimates from the yar’ius groups of importers of the units and value of post-war requirements and set aside a certain amount in sterling in London for post-war goods, as well as a certain amount of sterling credit in the international bank. If the value of the goods required was more than the sterling available, consideration must be given to the preparation of a schedule of permitted imports according to the degrees of essentiality. Mr Nash said that befor any reply could be given to the proposals it would be necessary to communicate with the British Government and to ascertain its post-war export trade policy. When this was received the matter would be considered by the Government and a reply would be given to the representations. However the deputation could understand that the feeling of the Government in regard to Britain was unaltered.