BRITAIN HARMED

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22620, 24 April 1948, Page 4

BRITAIN HARMED

CURB ON_ IMPORTS VISITOR’S COMMENTS DISAPPOINTMENT FELT (P.A.) WELLINGTON, April 24. “It is fortunate for the Old Country that the other Dominions have not followed the New Zealand import licensing example for, if they had, there is not the slightest doubt that Britain would soon be having unemployment In the textile industries.” This statement was made by Mr. F. H. Parkes, chairman of a firm of lace furnishing manufacturers, prior to returning to Britain after a six weeks’ visit to the North and South Islands. He said he expressed the earnest hope that the present licensing system would be modified with a view to helping the United Kingdom export drive. “I am leaving New Zealand with a feeling of disappointment and frustration. ’’ Mr. Parkes said. “Various Government regulations controlling the

textile trade in New Zealand have closed down on manufacturers in Britain to an extent not realised here.” Mr. Parkes said. The 1938 licensing basis acted unfairly. The general public was the greatest sufferer for there was either a feast or a famine of imported textile goods. No check seemed to be kept on importations of various items under the tariff classification. Licensing had been the cause of many smaller merchants in New Zealand finding themselves in extreme financial difficulties in the past few months, Mr. Parkes added. There never would be a better time to lift import licensing. Most merchants had learnt a bitter lesson in the past year, and only the crazy ones would enter into unlimited buying at the present moment.