IMPORTERS’ INTERESTS

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 30, 29 October 1932, Page 8

IMPORTERS’ INTERESTS

Extension of Activities WELLINGTON ASSOCIATION Commercial interests in a number of fields are already, allied with the recently established New Zealand Importers’ Federation. At a meeting of the council of the Wellington Importers’ Association yesterday the president, Mr. Edwin Salmond, announced that' the Auckland Importers’ and Shippers’ Protection Association and the Otago Importers’’ and Shippers’ Association had decided to affiliate with the New Zealand Importers’ Federation. A further meeting of importers in Christchurch had also been held, and it was anticipated that the importers’ section of the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce, or a separate organisation representing the importers, would also affiliate with the New Zealand body at an early date. A letter was read from the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes, advising the .association that careful and sympathetic consideration bad been given to the association’s representations that the removal of the surtax from United Kingdom goods should be made retrospective to the date on which the announcement respecting the matter was first made. Mr. Forbes stated that the Government regretted that it could not see its way to grant the request. A letter from the Customs Department advised that in determining the margin of preference stipulated by the Ottawa agreement between the British and foreign goods, the surtax on foreign goods would be taken into account. On the recommendation of the Customs committee it was decided to forward a letter of appreciation to the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates for his services at the Ottawa Conference. Various members raised the question of harbour dues, and suggestions were put forward for the effecting of a reduction in the inward dues levied by the Wellington Harbour Board. It was pointed out. that there was considerable disparity between the inward and outward dues, and it was contended that those on inward goods should be lowered. The council decided to open the question with the Harbour Board with a view to having the whole matter discussed. A number of applications for membership were received, and the applicants were elected members of the association.