BIG EXPORT ORDER

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31560, 23 December 1967, Page 1

BIG EXPORT ORDER

Back from a 10-day sales mission to South Africa, a Christchurch businessman, Mr T. L. Uren, said yesterday that his order book “would benefit the New Zealand Government by $500,000 in taxation.”

Mr Uren, managing director of Carbonic Ice, Ltd, sold principally carbon - dioxide plants. All the equipment is designed and made in Christchurch.

Mr Uren said he also sold a large number of fire extinguishers. Mr Uren said he decided to

go to South Africa this month rather than to South-East Asia with the New Zealand Manufacturers’ Federation’s trade mission. “There is a tremendous potential in South Africa for exporters from New Zealand if the New Zealand Government would give us at least the incentives that are offered by every other country that is exporting,” Mr Uren said. “We are working under a tremendous handicap because of the difficulty of shipping,” he added. “Another handicap is the availability of the everyday materials we should be able to buy at the corner shop. “If we want a pressure gauge, or what I call ‘nuts and bolts,’ you can’t get it in New Zealand. The cost of finding bits and pieces in New Zealand is greater than the cost of the materials. “Unless the New Zealand Government gives some realistic incentives it will drive manufacturers out of this country.” South African business executives were astute negotiators who had a sense of

security in their business. Under good incentives and moderate taxation, they worked extremely hard. Most were on the job at 7.30 a.m., and left for home at 6 p.m. with a bundle of papers under their arm. “I think the incentives offered to New Zealand manufacturers to export are the lowest of any country," said Mr Uren. “New Zealand should have the highest incentives, whereas it has the most disincentives of manufacturing for export of any country.” South Africa, he said, was booming. “The South African people were most co-operative,” he said. “Black and white work together most happily. No-one could do more for you than the coloured people.”