Progress-Retarding Policies Not Wanted

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30406, 3 April 1964, Page 3

Progress-Retarding Policies Not Wanted

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, April 2. New Zealand should avoid any policies which would give her less scope and encouragement to develop textile industries than other countries in the International Wool Secretariat, according to submissions placed before the Tariff and Development Board today by the New Zealand Textile and Garment Manufacturers’ Federation.

“In view of the rapid scientific progress of the world today and international trends in textile manufacturing and trade, sections of our industry must not be placed in a technological backwater vis a vis their overseas counterparts,” said the federation.

As a major wool producing country. New Zealand should practice what it preaches by taking all reasonable steps to promote the local use of wool. However, the important point for the economy was how much was used internationally.

To operate efficiently, New Zealand industries required access to all materials in the quantity, quality and variety needed to meet local demand, up to the broad standards achieved by the same industries in countries with similar living standards. To the extent that such materials were made satisfactorily in New Zealand, the makers should receive normal protection. Where such materials were not made in New Zealand, importation should be allowed.

There should be no overhasty or untested attempt to discard or distort the existing general structure of import licensing or tariff control until it was clear that something better couldbe introduced. The present inquiry should aim to remove existing frustrations and dissatisfactions. Subject to the national interest, the federation desired that all materials required for manufacturing should be selected solely on the ground of their merits. Any substitution should be limited and well defined.

When import licensing quotas were decided for the materials under review, the materials should be channelled into the hands of the manufacturers who used them, and genuine stoc’ '~>ts. The board should seriously consider whether a tariff was a proper means of promoting one class of material or fibre and penalising its alleged competitor. Present arbitrary and over-rigid “intruder” tariff items should be discarded, the federation said.