Did Mr Nash Sell Havana Conference His “Pet Theory”?

Greymouth Evening Star, 3 April 1948, Page 5

Did Mr Nash Sell Havana Conference His “Pet Theory”?

(P.A.) AUCKLAND, This Day. “Importers had been looking to the World Trade Charter to end import control as practised in New Zealand, but apparently Mr Nash, after failing at Geneva, has to a certain extent been able to sell the Havana conference his own pet theory,” said Mr A. G. Wilson, president.of the Bureau of Importers, commenting today on the statement by the Minister of Finance, Mr Nash, yesterday on world trade as affecting the Dominion. “Mr Nash says that certain criteria had been established, whereby , permission would be automatically granted, but it would be surprising if the charter permits the continuation in perpetuity of the rigid restrictive forms of import control New Zealand has suffered for the last 10 years now resulting in complete chaos,” Mr Wilson said. “When the full text of the charter is known, it will be found the present system will have to be considerably modified. The balance of payments can be effectively adjusted by exchange control without import control.

“It is noted that an early session of Parliament is indicated and no time should be lost in making public the full text of the charter, so it can be studied and informed opinion expressed. “If the Government had put as much energy during the last 10 years -'into encouraging increased primary production and extending exports as it has put into restricting trade under import control, we would today be not only supplying Britain with must greater quantities of foodstuffs but also earning more dollars for ourselves and would not be suffering from acute shortages of so many essential goods and a lower living standard