Public Urged To Be Export Conscious

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31231, 1 December 1966, Page 18

Public Urged To Be Export Conscious

The attitude of the public to exporting is the key to success or failure of our drive to increase exports, says Mr T, V. Wilkinson, convener of the Movement for the Advancement of Free Competitive Enterprise, in a letter to “The Press.”

All too many people think it is a question for the farming community alone, he says. The most export-conscious countries are usually found to be the heavily over-popula-ted ones. New Zealand, although not overpopulated as yet, is poor in such natural resources as oil and minerals, except coal, so is equally dependent on world trade. “Only a solvent farming community can find the capital and labour for modern farming technology. There is not the slightest evidence that this is recognised by a large section of the community. In .-.ddition, there are constant upward pressures from many sources, particularly rulings from the Arbitration Court which are not based on the necessity of solvent exporting industries but rather on a cost-of-living basis.

have been held to reduce the costs of shipping by a faster turn-round, yet we continue to suffer frequent hold-ups from direct action . . . The Federation of Labour expresses concern at the big rise in freights charged by overseas companies but supports costly hold-ups in our own ports.” Mr Wilkinson says that having learned the value of food exports in a half-staved world. New Zealanders must also appreciate the importance of reciprocal trade and learn to admit and buy articles if they are competitive. “Other peoples cannot be expected to rush our goods if they would be left with a big adverse balance of payments,” he says.