New Zealand Imports

Dominion, Volume 27, Issue 34, 3 November 1933, Page 13

New Zealand Imports

Sir, —The following is an extract of a letter received by last English mail from a.'London export' firm :— “Trade with New Zealand” —The trouble is not nearly so easy to overcome as might appear on the surface. Hero we, a manufacturing and exporting community. must export in order to find the wherewithal to purchase, For some tinip now the export trade of this country has been far from what it should have been/ and consequently purchasing power is greatly reduced. If quotas are proposed you must realise that it is not, in general, through any ill-feeling on the part of this country toward New Zealand. We, and many others, have always felt that the feeling existing between this country and New Zealand -was a most friendly one, and it is one which is greatly valued by this country. The last few years, however, have been far from easy either here or elsewhere, and purses generally do not have tho buying capacity they had in the past. The recovery is undoubtedly taking place from the slump of the last few years, but tlie recovery cannot be speedy. The slump and general world depression have been too great for. that. After reading a - letter such as the above one cannot help feeling.that a definite check should be applied to all foreign importations into this country. Our people should be educated to demand British or New Zealand-inade goods every time they make a purchase, and our farmers should be the first to show this good example. We deserve quotas, and unless we change our methods we may have to face further restrictions on our exports. Britain is .closely watching the game: then let us play fair. Sales of scrap-iron to foreign countries will not assist our primary industries one iota. — I am. etc., NEW ZEALANDER. Hawke’s Bay. October 29.