NO POLICY CHANGE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21504, 8 September 1944, Page 2

NO POLICY CHANGE

“THE PEOPLE’S INTERESTS” MR. NASH DEFENDS PLAN (P.R.) WELLINGTON, Sept. 8. The declaration that the Government would continue its policy of import control to the full as long as it was in the interests of the people of the country to do so was made by the Minister of Finance, the Hon. W. Nash, replying to the Budget debate in the House of Representatives last night. Fie said that the Government was of the opinion that the carrying out of the policy of import control and exchange control would lead to a maximum of trade. The Leader of the Opposition and other Opposition members, said Mr. Nash, had stated that they would abolish import control. Mr. Nash said he wished to say that, if import control were abolished, it would result in the complete disintegration of the manufacturing side of tire Dominion. It would prevent normal rehabilitation procedure if the country was to put its service personnel back into industry.

Import control abandonment meant that what was most profitable would be brought in, not that which was most needed. There was not a ship that could be loaded with material, there was not a pound of any commodity that was required in this country that could be brought here that was not being brought to the Dominion. They would not use labour, material and credit ihat was available overseas and would not betray the war activity by using a single cubic foot of shipping space to bring goods that were not absolutely required and they would keep the import policy operating to the full as long as they were on the Treasury benches and as long as it was in the interests of the people of the Domihion. Mr. F. W. Doidge (Opp. Tauranga): Is that the way you talked in Washington about the Atlantic Charter? Mr. Nash replied that at the Bretton Woods conference he had slated that New Zealand would not give up import control, but the Government might consider keeping money available for other transactions that might be approved. Not a single statement had been made by him as the representative of the Government or by the Government that had suggested that at any time the Government would abandon import control and exchange control. There was not a penny "that they could spend out of the country's credits that would not be spent for goods that were necessary, added Mr. Nash.