Assurance On Textiles

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32234, 28 February 1970, Page 3

Assurance On Textiles

The Government had no intention of introducing a system of protective duties on fabrics which would result in the New Zealand housewife having to pay prices “far above world level,” said the Minister of Industries and Commerce (Mr Shelton). He was replying to a correspondent, Helen Garrett, who, in a letter to the edi tor of “The Press," wrote.— “The consumer in this country is apparently about to be the victim of a really massive exploitation. Sir John Acland, chairman of the Wool Board, is quoted as saying that the woollen mills, instead of further developing wool processing for export, are now going to move (with Government blessing) into the whole field of textiles They intend taking over “a huge range of household fabrics”—not only synthetic shirtings and underwear fab rics, but upholstery materials, sheeting, etc. “It is the Nelson cotton mill all over again,” according to Sir John Acland. The intention apparently is to establish a system of protective duties to keep out imported fabrics that would sell more cheaply than those manufactured locally The result will be that the New Zealand housewife will have to buy textiles “at prices far above world level.” Can you discover whether such a scheme is indeed approved by the Minister of Industries and Commerce?” Mr Shelton said that he thought some confusion had arisen over the interpretation of certain recommendations made by the committee of inquiry into the New Zealand Woollen and Associated Textile Milling Industry “This committee examined the problems of textile manufacturing in New Zealand and

made certain recommends-! tions as to the rationalisation and future expansion of New Zealand production,” he said. “There is no intention on the part of the industry to abandon its efforts to increase the depth of processing wool products for export. In fact, the exact opposite is the case, and the committee made several recommenda tions in this direction. “It was pointed out, however, that while wool will play a dominant role in the New Zealand textile industry for a long time ahead, increasing moves will also have to be made into the synthetics field, with the attainment of as great a depth of produc tion as possible. “I can assure your corres ’ pondent that there is no intention of introducing any

| system of protective duties on fabrics which would result in the New Zealand housewife having to pay prices ‘far above world level.’ “I hope that this makes the position clearer to your correspondent and she may be assured that the Government is fully aware of the need to consider consumer prices in implementing any changes in textile policy,” he said.