IMPORT CONTROL

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIX, Issue 99, 28 April 1945, Page 9

IMPORT CONTROL

BUSINESS MEN CONCERNED

The Government's proposal to maintain import control continues to concern the business community, judging t a number of letters received at this week's meeting of the council of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce. All expressed opposition to the present system, and they were referred to the imports committee for consideration, reports the chamber. One letter suggested that steps should be taken to bring all sections of the business community together to discuss the matter, so that combined representations could be made to the Civernment. Another writer urged that business men should be prepared to propound alternative proposals for the more efficient handling of import selection. In a third communication it was recalled that in 1921 the banks allocated exchange among their customers. It was suggested that this could again ■- done by the six trading banks, with a certain amount set aside to deal with new operations and new enterprises. In the discussion ' that followed speakers recalled the undertaking given by Mr. Nash to the United Kingdom Government when the agreement Was signed in London in July, 1939. TMr. Nash, it was stated, undertook that as circumstances permitted the New Zealand Government would do its utmost, by the relaxing of restrictions, to ensure the maximum _expansion of trade between the United Kingdom and New Zealand, consistent with the "maintenance of sound economic conditions in New Zealand and the Government's obligations to existing industries.

Mr. F. Wilson said that efforts were being made to reconcile the viewpoints of the importer and the manufacturer. Ke felt that exchange control would have to remain with them for some time, but that did not mean the maintenance of the present system of import selection. "It should be possible to arrive at a basis which will enable adequate consideration to be given to the manufacturer, the importer, and the United Kingdom manufacturer," he said. "If we hope to develop our export trade with Great Britain we have to facilitate trade with Britain, instead of handicapping it."