Freer importing urged by planning head

Press, 24 June 1978, Page 24

Freer importing urged by planning head

PA Wellington New Zealand’s protective importing policies need to be reviewed urgently, the chairman of the Planning Council (Sir Frank Holmes) has told the annual conference of Federated Farmers’ agriculture section. He said that New Zealand should move toward a more liberal importing policy. It had to be asked whether continuation of the protection and subsidies offered to various sectoi ■ of the economy could be justified in the national interest. However, steps would have to be taken with a more liberal importing policy to ensure that other countries did not dump products in the New Zealand market, said Sir Frank. There was much merit in closer economic ties being created between New Zealand and Austra-

lia. New Zealanders should think of’ this as one way of making the economy more competitive ,i .ternationally. Domesticaby. the council had expressed concern about the increasing complexity of measures and incentives which had been introduced from time to time to assist various sectors of the economy. “I think we have got to be somewhat concerned about the distortions we may introduce by this type of approach,” said Sir Frank. One of the most disturbing factors of the last year had been the loss of momentum. In both agriculture and manufacturing in the drive to increase exports. The situation was improving but it was still not close to the annual 5 per cent increase by volume which the council wanted for exports.