IMPORTS FOR N.Z. MARKET

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 25061, 18 December 1946, Page 6

IMPORTS FOR N.Z. MARKET

——♦ — WORK OF MINISTRY OF SUPPLY

MR G. W. CLINKARD RETURNS

(P.A.) WELLINGTON, December 17. Mr G. W. Clinkard, who was representative of the New Zealand Ministry of Supply in the United Kingdom during the war, returned on the Waiwera to take up the position of Secretary of the Department of Industries and Commerce, a position he held in the much smaller department 11 years ago. Mr Clinkard said that his job during the last few years had been hunting for imports for the New Zealand market, a matter in which he considered New Zealand had been very fairly treated. Britain was letting New Zealand have as much as she could, consistent with the necessity for maintaining other markets and letting her people have essentials. What was holding un production was not so much shortage of materials but of labour, although a shortage of sheet steel had until recently put a brake on the export of motor cars. “I do not fee] in cases where there are actual shortages ip New Zealand that these shortages are due to lack of import licences.” he said. “They are more likejy to be due to the lack of export licences at the other 'end. I cannot imagine the New Zealand authorities refusing imnort licences for something they need desperately.”