Imports may be slowed

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33963, 2 October 1975, Page 2

Imports may be slowed

(.New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, October 1.

The (Government had prepared contingency plans for import control, the Leader of the Opposition (Mr Muldoon) said todav.

Mr Muldoon told a Wellington Chamber of Commerce luncheon that he had not the slightest doubt that work had been done at an official level to prepare contingency import control plans. He said that a National Government would be forced ‘to consider introducing imiport controls if next year’s I imports were on the same !level as in the last. However, the method of control could only be determined after the General Election. “We can’t afford to import next year at the same level as we are doing now,” he said. New Zealand’s overseas borrowing was now the greatest in the world per capita, with the possible : exception of Iceland. “As somebody said to me the ; other day, that’s pretty cold comfort.”

Mr Muldoon said that the National Party was aiming for a “New Zealand the way you want it,” and would not make pacts with anyone before the General Election. He said that the Remuneration Authority had been abolished because of a pact [made between the Federation [of Labour and the Labour !Party before the last election. “We will have no pacts of' [that kind with anyone. Wei have refused them in the! -past,” he said. I