Imports

Press, 16 May 1989, Page 20

Imports

Sir, —The silence of the Christchurch North M.P., Mike Moore, on A. P. Nichols’ question on the real cause of the rise in imports (May 6) should have been expected. This Labour Government has no answers to the depression that it and National have forced on New Zealand. Two months ago the Government boasted of an export value surplus for February, but ignored the fact that the increase partly reflected the improving prices New Zealand’s traditional exports were receiving on world markets, a slightly lower New Zealand dollar value and an increase in international inflation. Mr Moore put the export to import surplus down to a “significant contribution” from the “innovative manufacturing sector.” Yet, as A. P. Nichols pointed out, if it is imported second-hand cars that are swallowing up our overseas dollars as imports, where are the raw material imports or technology necessary to sustain and increase the production of this “innovative manufacturing sector”? As Garry Knapp, leader of the Democratic Party, said recently, “Primarily, New Zealand is not competitive because we have become technologically deficient ... We need policies that will see rapid investment in technology, research and development, and education.” —Yours, etc., HEATHER SMITH. May 8, 1989.