N.Z. IMPORT CONTROL

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22011, 3 May 1946, Page 3

N.Z. IMPORT CONTROL

CRITICAL NOTE BRITISH TRADERS EXCHANGE, BUYING QUERIES FOR MR. NASH (Special Correspondent.) (10 a.m.) LONDON, May 2. Questions on New Zealand's import control policy are to be asked Dir. AV. Nash when he addresses the London Chamber of Commerce, probably toward the end of this month. At the annual meeting of the chambers'Australian and New Zealand section there was a general discussion on the subject and though it was felt there were certain objections which could be made it was also felt it was not the responsibilit.wof the London chamber to do so. It was the opinion of Mr. John McLean, chairman of the council, said Mr. A. de V. Leigh, who is secretary, that there might be a tendency to get the London chamber to say things on the subject that might be used as political ammunition which would be undesirable. There were certain tendentious questions associated with the subject and if the London chamber, which carried a good deal of weight, voiced an opinion on them it might be suggested it was speaking for Britain. Undertaking Not Completed One question was whether New Zealand had carried out its undertaking under the memorandum signed by Mr Nash in London in July, 1939, but. said Mr. Leigh, it was not for the London chamber to say whether New Zealand had carried out its bargain or not but for the British Government. While agreeing with Mr. Leigh, Mr. S. Jacobs said that if it were necessary to answer the question on the memorandum, it was known that the New Zealand Government had not carried out its undertaking. But the memorandum had been signed in 1939 and the position had radically changed during the war. He felt that what the chamber desired was to get Mr. Nash to give a fresh exposition on the matter and throw a fresh picture on the screen.

Fie was particularly interested in the question whether New Zealand’s exchange rate should be continued. Mr. B. J. Large said that exporters felt that the New Zealand Government had not lived up to its promises, but, at the same time, the hazardous and serious nature of the war had caused many countries to improvise local production and. therefore nothing couid be held against New Zealand for not carrying out its undertaking “Somebody Has to Voice Opinion” “Thev could not have carried it out, and I don’t think we should venture an opinion as to what happened in the past.” In a general discussion it was stated there were certain commodities which Britain could ship to New Zealand but which the Government would not allow to be imported. This led Mr. F. C. Brown Douglas to state: “Somebody lias got to voice an opinion on this subject, but I do not think the British Government will do it.” The Board of Trade would say it was a domestic matter for New Zealand but actually it was also a domestic matter for Britain for somehow or other her goods had to be absorbed. “New Zealand has a very complicated importing system and I do hope this will be put before Mr. Nash,” he added. Quoting figures of present imports allowable, he said that they sounded all right until they were compared with the 1933 figures when thev were found to be far below. “Has Not Done Her Stuff” “I don't feci that New Zealand is honouring her agreement on 1939,” he added. “She has not done her stuff asj far as our exports are concerned and' somebody has to tell the Government.” Mr. H. O. Harris, chairman of the, Australian and New Zealand sections: “I agree someone has to tell them, but' I don't think it is the London Chamber of Commerce.” Major P. S. Thomson said he agreed with Mr. Leigh and added that there was no difficulty in going to the Gov-| ernment to obtain special licences toi export certain lines of goods. Mr. Harries: “I hope when you go! back to New Zealand you tell your] Labour Government to take off some of! its restrictions.” '• He added that the position could be j summed up by saying that New Zea-j land, perhaps, could do a little better but now was not an opportune moment] for the London chamber to make any! statement. The meeting decided to defer further! discussion on the subject until it had the opportunity of questioning and lis-l tening to Mr. Nash. ,