Import curbs threatened

Press, Volume CXVI, Issue 34104, 17 March 1976, Page 22

Import curbs threatened

Imports of goods not essential to New Zealand's economy must be reduced substantially, or the Government would extend the import deposit scheme, the Minister of Trade and Industry (Mr AdamsSchneider) said in Christchurch last evenin?. Speaking to the Canterbury branch of the Institute of Management, Mr AdamsSchneider said th. imnort deposit scheme, introduced in February, covered 7 per cent of New Zealand’s imnorts in areas where there had been recent heavv importing. He said that there would be a “tightening up” of importing “It will be a tight administration policv. with everv case being based «n merit." said Mr Adams-Schneider. However, everv individual case would be given consideration if brought before him and “we will act fairly if nec’ssarv." Mr Adams-Schneider said he could sav no more about the importing policv until it wa. announced on Anril 2. The Government had introduced new nolicies. and he was aware that the business community might encounter difficulties in adjusting to them. “It must be plainly understood that all sectors of the conununitv must share the burden of righting the economy. “The trade union movement a-- a whole has accented a wage order substantially less

; than they might hve been ex- , pected to in normal times , The business community must do its share as well,” he said ’ “I know that both jobs and I profits are at stake today. • But in the interests of both . traders and workers and in the interests of the consumer we must aim for stability,” said Mr Adams-Schneider. He said that the country must move towards an inflation rate of 10 per cent by the end of the year. ’ “I would like to see us ’ move towards the 10 per • cent, and then take it from • there. I would hope we would | move towards something better than 10 per cent.” he i said. When stability had been achieved, attention would be I given to the rates of company profitability, to investment incentives, and to the creation of employment opportunities. A working party was al readv working on the Commerce Act in an attempt to make it more "workable and understandable.” He hoped that a bill would be brought down earlv in the session "In the area of new policy. I have the challenging task of establishing an entirely new Small Business Agency (5.8. A. and I will value advice and assistance this year on this proiect,” said Mr Adams-Schneider. The S.B.A. would be for small businessmen, to assist them financially, technically, and with training courses for staff. Larger businesses were able to raise finance much more easily than small ones, and the agency would heln the small businessman to compete.