BOARD OF TRADE ADVOCATED

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25309, 8 October 1947, Page 9

BOARD OF TRADE ADVOCATED

ADDRESS TO GARMENT MANUFACTURERS From Our Own Reporter

HANMER SPRINGS, October 7. The establishment of a permanent board with functions similar to those of tariff boards in Australia and Canada was advocated by Mr A. M. Hollander this evening, when he opened the annual conference of New Zealand Garment Manufacturers’ Federation.

“A board of trade, or whatever you call it, has been on the platforms of the political parties for a number of years, but nothing much has been done, and in a year or two" it may be too late,” he said. Mr Hollander said that such a board could keep a close watch on the importation of clothing to New Zealand. He thought that there should be some imports and that certain imported women’s fashion lines would be useful to the trade. The industry, and New Zealand as a whole, did not want to see a repetition of “dumping” of end-of-season clothing to be sold in New Zealand as seasonal fashions.! Another matter which the board' could investigate was reciprocity. Several countries in the past had been anxious to export certain types of clothing, but had barred the importation of New Zealand-made garments. The board would also be able to watch immigration schemes in order to ensure that industries got the best employees and employers from those who were anxious to emigrate to New Z land.