IMPORT INTERESTS

Dominion, Volume 25, Issue 266, 5 August 1932, Page 5

IMPORT INTERESTS

New Association Formed TRADERS’ PROTECTION Tariff and Exchange Rate With the object of watching the interests of importers, particularly matters relating to. Customs duties, shipping and exchange, a Wellington Im- ' porters’ Association has been formed of representative business meh. At the I recent initial meeting of the executive I several speakers emphasised the necessity for the association taking a longsighted and broad-minded view of the various matters. with which it would have to deal. The following council has been elected Messrs. E. • Salmond, A. L. Wall, C. J. B. Norwood, Hope B. Gibbons, O. Richardson, D. A. Ewen, J. Myers, W. F. Cuthbertson, D. G. McCaul, A. D. Kerr, G. S. Amos, W. Simm, L. Whitcombe, E. A. Batt, E. W. Ackland, 11. G. 'Buckleton, W. E. Jackson, and H. Bateson. ‘ Mr. Edwin Salmond was elected president, Mr. A. Leslie Wall vice-president, and Mr. T. Lisle was appointed secretary. The following chairmen of committees were appointed: Membership, J. Myers; Parliamentary, E. Salmond; Customs, A. D. Kerr; exchange and propaganda, H. Bateson. It was decided that the chairman of each committee should appoint his own members, .the .president and vice-president to be ex-officio members of all committees. . Exchange Rate Discussed. In acknowledging his election as president, Mr. Salmond said there were many important, problems with which the association would have to deal, particularly in regard to-Customs'duties, shipping and exchange. There was no justification at. the present time for : any Increase in the exchange rate, and .if the rate were increased through the action of • one bank, it would be decidedly detrimental to the interests of the country generally. Referring to Customs duties, Mr. Salmond said he believed that these had got out of hand, and there was urgent need for existing duties being ■ reduced. If he correctly interpreted the views of those present, they, as an association, were not opposed to a certain measure of protection to worthwhile secondary Industries, but such tariff protection should not be excessive, and it should not be granted to uneconomic, ■ mushroom Industries,

Mr. - Salmond urged that in all matters the association should take a broad, national view, and should support, that policy which it considered in the best interests of the country. So far as the Chamber of Commerce was concerned, he emphasised that the association did not in any way desire- to impair the strength of that body. The chamber included exporters, importers, manufacturers, and other sections of the business community, each of which already had its own individual organisation to protect its particular interests. If was now proposed to form a similar association to protect the interests of importers, while still cooperating • with the Chamber of Commerce. ’ Dominion-wide Body.

It was considered that an effort should be made to form a New Zealand body, and it was resolved that the association should communicate with interested parties and bodies in the other centres of the Dominion, including similar associations in Dunedin and elsewhere, suggesting that a conference should be called for the purpose of forming a New Zealand Importers’ Federation.

It was decided that the subscription should be £2/2/- per annum, payable on election, and it was also decided, on i, «°i! on of Mr- Batt> seconded by Mr. McCaul, that a general,meeting of members should be called when 100 members had been enrolled, for the purpose of discussing the aims and objects of the association. An emergency committee, consisting of the president, vice-president, and chairmen of committees! was set up, and it was decided that this committee should frame a constitution for submission to the council at its next meeting, on August 10.