N.Z. trade statistics system “archaic

Press, 25 May 1977, Page 22

N.Z. trade statistics system “archaic

( New Zealand’s external trade statistical system has) been criticised by the President of the New Zealand. (Manufacturers Association I (Mr L. G. Brown). | In a statement, he said in, ' a large number of cases the information produced by New, Zealand’s present system fori the collection of export data was totally useless. This was because this] country used two different: basis of collecting import and) export statistics, which ( (meant that in many cases it) was not possible to relate! imports to exports for a given product, said Mr Brown. The serious short-comings in our export statistical classifications had also created major problems fori New Zealand manufacturers: in the preparation of vital! isubmissions to the Australian] (Industries Assistance Com-! mission, and had disadvantaged New Zealand industries! ’in negotiations with Austra-j Ilia on the N.A.F.T.A. Mr Brown said it seemed: clear that the necessity fori accurate, detailed and mean-| ingful statistics was still not! understood by those respon- i

sible for the present archaic I (system and this lack of under-! standing could well cost the, (country dearly. It was time New Zealand’s I export statistical classification (was totally overhauled in, order to ensure it provided) (information of real worth to i (users, he said.