IMPORTERS ORGANISE

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 70, 16 December 1937, Page 6

IMPORTERS ORGANISE

Opposition To Increased

Tariffs

AUCKLAND GROUP FORMED

Dominion Special Service.

Auckland, December 15.

A strong organisation representing the ‘interests of importers and British manufacturers has been formed in Auckland and will be known as the Bureau of Importers. Mr. W. A. Boucher acted as convenor.

According to a statement issued the bureau was formed “following the recent agitation of the local manufacturers for increased tariff protection or other forms of trade restriction,” and because of “statements that have been made by Ministers of the Crown that it is the intention of the Government to give added protection to New Zealand secondary industries. “It is felt that local manufacturers will not be content until they have shut out all British manufactured goods from this market,” the statement says. “Members of the importing community have decided to combine with the object of acquainting the public with some of the true facts regarding the protection already afforded to secondary industries. The Bureau of Importers also intends to request the New Zealand Government that the importing community be permitted to place its case before the committee before any action is taken to raise tariffs or apply quotas.

Four-Square for Ottawa.

“The Bureau of Importers, which will stand four-square for the Ottawa Agreement and inter-Empire trade, will represent the commercial community interested in the importation of wearing apparel, footwear, hardware lines, building materials, radio and electrical goods, and other lines. The executive will consist of men who have had considerable experience in the importing business, and are not in any way associated with secondary industries. “The membership has already assumed considerable proportions and the response to the organisation has been general and spontaneous. The commercial interests represented express considerable concern lest any action taken by the New Zealand Government in according increased tariff protection or other forms of trade restriction should be regarded by the United Kingdom as a breach of the Ottawa Agreement, and result in a quota or a levy being imposed on our primary products entering the United Kingdom. “If this should happen, it is considered that it would be the blackest day in New Zealand economic history. .Increased tariff protection and other forms of restrictions of imports can have no other result than to increase the cost of production in New Zealand for both primary and secondary industries, making both less economic. Our primary industries have to compete in the unsheltered markets of the world, and to do this low costs are essential. High Cost of Living. “The cost of living to the public of New Zealand is already too high. Housewives are being faced with everincreasing costs, and if an organisation were formed by housewives (or is at present in existence), then the Bureau Qf Importers will co-operate with any organisation and supply it with facts showing how the high cost of living has been brought about largely by high tariffs and other restrictions to trade. Housewives of this country do not realise the tremendous sacrifice they are making to encourage uneconomic secondary industries. “It must be perfectly obvious that the English public canuot be expected ■ to purchase New Zealand primary products, if, due to pressure from the New Zealand Manufacturers’ Federation, British manufactured goods are excluded from this market. “There has been a threat of a boycott in the Midlands against New Zealand primary products if goods produced by British workmen are further prejudiced in this market. The New Zealand Manufacturers’ Federation seems to overlook the fact, that the English workers who are buying our primary products feel that they are entitled to pay for them by having the products of their labours purchased and used in New Zealand. “The public should know that in addition to the protection accorded to New Zealand manufacturers by tariffs, New Zealand industries are further protected by the high landing charges on imported goods and by our adverse rate of exchange. The total protection thus accorded to local manufacturers varies from 60 per cent, to 100 per cent, on British goods and from SO per cent, to 120 per cent, on foreign goods entering this market. “If New Zealand secondary industries cannot compete against goods imported under these conditions,” the statement concludes, “then it is time that the tariff support accorded to them was withdrawn.”