Import Controls

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28480, 9 January 1958, Page 3

Import Controls

Sir, —Concerning the public buying pepper, jams, etc., it shows how selfish the public are. Our own jams are just as good. Pepper could be done without. As for smoking, there is too much anyway. If the public were to pull their weight and get behind the Government the import controls would soon be lifted—Yours, etc.. A HOUSEWIFE. January 6, 1958.

Sir, —To enable myself and other readers to get a clearer picture of the question of our overseas funds would you be good enough, if you are able, to supply the following information: (1) What was the amount of those funds when the Labour Government took office in 1935; (2) what was the position when they left office in 1949; (3) on how many occasions (if any) during Labour’s term of office did our overseas funds fall below the level at which they are today (I know of course that exact comparison is not possible because import restrictions were in force from 1938 onwards); (4) what was the amount of our overseas funds just prior to the 1938 election; (5) could you give a breakdown of expenditure of our overseas funds in a normal year under the headings normally used .such as Government purchases, capital goods, raw materials, consumer goods and, if possible, some idea of the percentage of consumer goods which could be classed as luxury goods.—Yours, etc., INTERESTED. January 4. 1958 1(1). £35,390.000. (2) £60,608.000 (3) Below £45,500,000 until January, 1944, reached £52,913,000 in February, 1944, fell to £39,963,000 in the following month and ruse to £45,482,000 in August, 1V44, the highest figure being £116,398.000 in February, 1947 (4) £7,881.060. (5) Of New Zealand’s total imports for the year ended March, 1956. of £263,576,000, the breakup was:—licensed, £31.901,000, decontrolled, £198.818.000. Government. £29,275,000. — Ed., “The Press.”]

Sir,—l note that in your issue Of today two correspondents “Tax Rebate” and “The General Elec tion” were similarly advised tha’ a personal letter to the Prime Minister should receive a reply In 1945 1 wrote to Mr Nash, then Finance Minister, asking for the following information: “The nature and total value of goods received from Germany under the Trade and Barter Agreement of 1938 which Mr Nash concluded with Germany, and the nature and value of goods we delivered.” 1 did not obtain any answer.— Yours, etc., LIBERAL FREE TRADER. January 8, 1958.