'Import quality’

Press, 27 March 1979, Page 6

'Import quality’

A plea for a relaxation of import controls to allow more high quality, welldesigned consumer goods into New Zealand was made by the Mayor of Christchurch (Mr H. G. Hay) last evening. He was opening the Design Council’s “shop by design” exhibition. Mr Hay, who is a former member of the council, said that if reasonable amounts of such goods were allowed in they would give New Zealand customers a basis for comparison between New Zealand and overseas products.

“Unfortunately many of the goods which have been imported tend too often to be poorly designed and bought to sell cheaply, yet still showing a high profit to the importer,” said Mr Hay.

“I believe that the stimulus from the importation of a limited quantity of well-designed products would be beneficial to our own manufacturers and help them be more competitive in their efforts to export.” During the shop-by-design week, shops will display products which have been awarded the Designmark. Activities this week will include retail staff training sessions, addresses by prominent designers and businessmen to educational institutions and service groups, a panel discussion and film showings. At a dinnqr tomorrow evening the Minister of Overseas Trade (Mr Taiboys) will present Designmark awards for 10 products.