IMPORT CONTROL

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 140, 16 June 1939, Page 10

IMPORT CONTROL

REACTION AT HOME

"HARM OVER-EMPHASISED"

NEW ZEALANDER RETURNS

That the effect of the New Zealand Government's import policy on United Kingdom manufacturers has been over-emphasised is the opinion of Mr. A. W. Beaven, head of a well-known Christchurch engineering firm, who returned by the Tamaroa yesterday after spending a year in England. Mr. Beaven said in an interview with "The Post" today that he had told people in England of his belief that the ultimate effect of the present import re- ! striction would be to increase the proportion of the Dominion's purchases in the Old Country, but the harmful effects that might be felt immediately had been so strongly stressed that there was a clanger of that impression remaining in the minds of English people after the restrictions had been removed. Mr!. Beaven said that in Rossindale, which he visited, the employees in one big factory, when they learnt of the import restrictions, immediately started to boycott all New Zealand produce. There was a danger that the meat trade from New Zealand would be affected, and this would be serious for both countries. "On returning to New Zealand from England one is forcibly struck by the difference between the success of the recruiting campaigns hr the two countries," said Mr. Beaven. "I understand that the response to the call for volunteers in New Zealand has been very disappointing, but at Home recruits are coming along at a tremendous rate, in addition to those who are called up for training under the conscription law. I would like to see the same thing in New Zealand, because there is no doubt that military training is good for the young fellows who go through it." GLASGOW EXHIBITION. While he was at Home, Mr. Beaven visited the Glasgow Exhibition. "The New Zealand exhibit at that Exhibition has come in for a lot of quite undeserved criticism," he said. "It was placed between the South African and the Canadian pavilions, and naturally looked small in comparison, but on the basis of the population of the various countries represented, it was as large as any other exhibit. The display itself was comprehensive and very good business was done. There is no doubt that that" exhibit has given New Zealand a very high reputation amongst the people of Glasgow." Referring to the active interest the people at Home are showing in rearmament and defence precautions, Mr. Beaven said that the spirit in which they had submitted to the tremendous sacrifices asked of them was wonderful. If anything, the women were even more active than the men, and everyone seemed to be taking part in some organisation of air-raid precautions or defence. At Sheffield, the returned soldiers employed by many of the factories had formed units to receive training in anti-aircraft gun operation. That movement started when the military authorities sent 72 men and five anti-aircraft guns to guard huge tanks of benzol at one factory on the day of the September crisis. After that the employees of that factory decided to organise their own unit, and their example had been followed by others. "In spite of the general talk of arms and re-armament the people generally are still behind IVIr. Chamberlain in his efforts for peace," said Mr. Beaven. "I don't think there is any doubt that his action at bMunich saved England by giving her time to arm herself effectively and' build up an efficient organisation to protect the civil population. I believe that the East End of London could now withstand a heavy aerial bombardment, but it would have been a very different tale had war broken out in ' September." MANUFACTURERS' ENTERPRISE. Ask about financial conditions generally, Mr. Beaven said there was no sign of any industrial depression in the United Kingdom. Rather, one was struck by the tremendous enterprise being shown by British manufacturers in the competition for world markets. Of course, it had to be borne in mind that the re-armament programme was benefiting a large number of manufacturers. Even the smaller firms were sharing in the big orders placed by the various defence services, because when one factory was successful in obtaining a large order it often arranged for a share of the required goods to be made by smaller factories. While he was at Home, Mr. Beaven visited his birthplace, Warminsier, in Wiltshire. He said that the town had now become a scene of considerable military activity, and the once prosperous and well-cultivated farm he occupied many years ago had.become a desolr^a waste.