N.Z. furniture ban —Govt comments

Press, 14 April 1984, Page 22

N.Z. furniture ban —Govt comments

PA Wellington The Government wants New Zealand furniture included in a Sydney exhibition in the spirit of the closer economic relations agreement. New Zealand furniture makers had effectively been barred from Australia’s major furniture exhibition in Sydney next month because of a ruling by New South Wales manufacturers. The Furniture Manufacturers Guild, which organises the Sydney Mart, refuses to accept exhibits of made-up furniture in order to protect its members. It will not let New Zealand take part despite the fact that 33 Australian companies displayed their wares in Auckland last month. The executive director of the guild, Mr Jim Simpson, said that nothing stopped New Zealand companies exhibiting furnishings, fittings and accessories, but the ruling on made-up furniture would not be bent. New Zealand furniture exhibitors at Australia’s second-largest fair, being held in Melbourne this week, believe that the New South Wales position is not good enough. Mr Ben Rumble, the Focus New Zealand co-ordi nator of the New Zealand effort at the Melbourne fair, said the N.S.W. guild was not working in the spirit of closer economic relations. “There are seven New Zealand manufacturers here who are unable to exhibit at Australia’s largest furniture fair,” he said. The Minister of Overseas

Trade, Mr Cooper, said in a statement yesterday that it should be recognised the Sydney Mart was essentially a domestic fair organised by the New South Wales Furniture Manufacturers Guild for the prime purpose of exhibiting their own furniture. It was not open to any overseas furniture companies. “There is no exclusion of New Zealand from trade fairs in Australia that are run by recognised exhibition organisers.”

But, Mr Cooper said, regardless of the special circumstances of the Sydney Mart, “our trade people in Sydney have already asked the guild to extend to New Zealand manufacturers the right to exhibit their furniture at the mart in view of our Closer Economic Relationship. Further approaches will be made.” Mr Cooper also said New Zealand manufacturers could even mount their own exhibition if that were appropriate.