ALLIED EXPORT TRADE

Evening Post, Volume CXXIX, Issue 65, 16 March 1940, Page 12

ALLIED EXPORT TRADE

(To the Editor.)

Sir _The following is an extract received lately from a London agent: "It is a great pity that you are not at liberty to import freely, as the present is a very opportune time; prices are rising, raw materials for commercial users are getting scarcer owing to the Government's requirements, and goods will not be up ,to pre-war standard in < many cases, particularly in coloured goods where heavy dyes are used. We are all out for export trade here, as we rank the export only second in importance to munitions, and I am pleased to say that I am doing quite a respectable business with the Dominions, excepting New Zealand;-also with U.S.A. I hope your Government will soon adopt a more generous attitude towards you, and at least allow you to carry on business which is your livelihood." Can you tell me, Sir, why the Government prohibits imports of goods from Great Britain, which are" not, and cannot be made in New Zealand,, and which are essential at present? I could supply you with a long list of such items. We exist through the might of Britain. We refuse to take certain essential goods from her. Is, this loyalty? Is this helping the Mother Country to win the war? Great Britain is buying all our exports, but we are refused licences to import essential British goods, prohibited. Is that fair? Also, why are goods from France — our fighting ally, subject to surcharge duty, whilst goods from Belgium and Holland—neutral countries—are admitted surcharge exempt? We. must help Britain and France all we can in every, way—not only with men, but with imports and exports.—l am, etc., IMPORTER.