Manufacturers Meet P.M. On Imports

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31598, 8 February 1968, Page 1

Manufacturers Meet P.M. On Imports

(New Zealand Preet Association)

WELLINGTON, February 7.

The Prime Minister (Mr Holyoake) tonight received a deputation from the Manufacturers’ Federation and for more than an hour discussed with it import licensing, the tariff structure and export incentives.

After the meeting, the federation’s president, Mr R. G. Speirs, told the New Zealand

Press Association that the atmosphere of the talks had been most satisfactory. Mr Speirs said the deputation’s main concern had been to ensure that import-licence protection for products made in New Zealand would not be relaxed until it was possible to provide an adequate tariff structure. If this was not possible through tariffs the federation hoped that satisfactory alternatives would be found. The discussions would be the subject of a statement soon by the Minister of Industries and Commerce (Mr Marshall), who was also at the meeting, Mr Speirs said. On export incentives, Mr Speirs said: "We are trying to ensure that export incentives will be increased, or at least maintained, at their present level to help us In our export drive.”

He said that some incentives would expire in March and exporters were anxious to know what provision would be made in the coming financial year.