SECRECY THOUGHT UNWISE

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 92, 12 January 1939, Page 10

SECRECY THOUGHT UNWISE

Possible Repercussions In Britain

DANGER OF RESTRICTION ON NEW ZEALAND Dominion Special Service. CHRISTCHURCH, January 11. The view that the secrecy maintained by the Government about its import control regulations was particulailj unwise because of possible repercussions in England was expressed by the Dominion president of the New Zea land Farmers’ Union, Mr. AV. Mulholland today. Taking part in a discussion at the monthly meeting of the North Canterbury executive of the union, Mr. Mulholland declared that the danger of possible restrictions on New Zealand’s primary exports to England had never been greater. For that reason care should be taken not to lose the only safeguard against such action that New Zealand had— friendship of industrialists hi England. The discussion started at the meeting about a particular complaint, a report that the importation of seaming twine was banned, but it extended into a general discussion of the new import licensing laws. "Acting Foolishly "1 think the Government is acting in a very foolish manner in not stating what its policy is,’’ said Mr. Mulholland. “Its action is tending to create a serious position. You will have noticed in the newspapers that it is being stated by British manufacturers and otiiers that the new regulations are being used in a way contrary to the Ottawa Agreement. 'That may or may not be so, and we are certainly not justified in saying so at the moment, but if the Government stated its policy, there would be no need for anyone to make unfounded statements. , “At the moment the danger of some restrict ion of our exports to Britain is closer Ilian it. lias ever been,” he continued. The only safeguard against I bat that. New Zealand farmers had was the British industrialists, who sold goods in this country nud the support of these men could be lost not only by this country’s actions, but. even from impressions of its actions they might gain because of Hie veil of secrecy about.the actual policy.

Protest Thought Warranted

Apart from tlie inconvenience caused business people in Ulis country, there was a danger of serious repercussions from "tliis exceedingly unwise secrecy,” said Mr. Mulholland. The position warranted a very definite protest from farmers. He was very much perturbed at the impression of its policy the Government was allowing to get abroad. He could see no reason for any refusal to allow the broad policy followed to be made public, even if there might be a number of cases which would have to be treated individually.

Tlie present arrangement was even harmful to public morality, Mr. Mulholland went oq. The suggestion might be made that certain favoured individuals might bo getting what they should not and unless public access was given to the Government’s policy such stories would gain credence. The lifting of the present veil of secrecy would scotch such stories before they were born.

Mr. T. .Mould, a Banks Peninsula delegate, said that though he agreed with what Mr. Mulholland had said about secrecy, he thought that control of imports should have been instituted years ago. If a farmer overspent his revenue, the mortgagee would by stepping in at the end of the year. Private individuals had to keep their accounts balanced. If the present scheme was brought in to ensure that interest commitments could be met or toi stop the entry of foreign goods in preference to those from Britain, which bought our exports, then it was sound, but if it was for some other reason such, perhaps, as to force people to buy New Zealand-made goods when it was econmically unsound, then the plan was wrong. Secrecy A Drawback. Mr. R. G. Bishop said that the secrecy kept was the drawback to the plan. If it was to discourage imports from foreign countries and encourage British goods, then there was no reason for such secrecy. He believed that that, in fact, was the motive of the restrictions, but the secrecy was causing much, unrest among people in England. No motion was carried about general licensing of imports, but the meeting decided to write* to the Minister of Customs about the reported banning of seaming twine. It was possible, it. was stated, that a mistake had been made in confusing binder and seaming twine. Seaming twine was absolutely essential.

Mr. J. E. H. McGrath drew a smile when he said he had it on the very best authority that the banning of twine was only a prelude to the compulsory equipping of all sack* with zipp fasteners.