N.Z. IMPORT SYSTEM AFFECTS BRITISH CARPET INDUSTRY

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22808, 1 December 1948, Page 9

N.Z. IMPORT SYSTEM AFFECTS BRITISH CARPET INDUSTRY

"We in Britain have to export as much as possible, because it is our life blood; however, we recognise that the economic situation in New Zealand is such that you have to put the brake on imports,” said Mr. James R. Walker, a Scottish businessman, who is touring New Zealand, in an interview in Christchurch. Mr. Walker is a director of Messrs. A. F. Stoddard and Company, Limited, carpet manufacturers, Elderslie, Renfrewshire, Scotland. “We in Britain are very grateful for the trading support we have had from New Zealand in the past, but the token import system affects us very badly.” he said. “Australia can take as much as we can give it, because there are no quotas on carpet imports there. "The position is slightly different in New Zealand, where quotas are in operation. We could give New Zealand more carpets than its importers could take, and New Zealand importers are willing to take our products if they could get import licenses for them.” The carpet industry's problem in Scotland, Mr. Walker said, was twofold; up to a point raw materials were in short supply, although woollen yarns were becoming easier to get, but the jute supply was still difficult; and there was a serious shortage of labour for the factories.