NEW ZEALAND AGENTS

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 76, 27 September 1944, Page 7

NEW ZEALAND AGENTS

COMMISSIONS QUESTION

A great deal of feeling had been aroused over the Government's attitude, in regard to commissions which overseas manufacturers' agents in New Zealand claimed were rightly payable to them in respect of goods imported from Canada and the United States. An arrangement had been made between the New Zealand Government and the agents, and it was alleged that that arrangement was not being carried out, said Mr. C. M. Bowden (National, Wellington West), when the Estimates for the Department of Industries and Commerce were before the House of Representatives yesterday afternoon.

Some new procedure had been introduced, and the Government was now claiming a rebate of those, commissions^ from the agents, said Mr. Bowden. The complaint was that the Government was asking for more than its fair share. "It has been commonly stated that the Government has broken faith and that the New Zealand agents have a very definite grievance," he added.

In reply, the. Minister (Mr. Sullivan) said he had had in mind the question of services rendered, and he could not see the justification for the Government paying commission to persons not giving service. .Mr. G. H. Mackley (National. Masterton): It's a common business custom.

Mr. Bowden: Why steal their business?

Mr. Mackley: You have done it already with your own Department. The Minister said that recently he had given instructions for a thorough examination of the question on the basis of what Government commitments ther.e were. Whichever way the question was settled, the Government v/ould follow the true and honest way, and any mistakes that might have been made would be rectified. Because of the instructions he had issued inyestigations were .proceeding both in Washington and in New Zealand.