SOMEWHAT STRAINED

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 12867, 22 May 1936, Page 8

SOMEWHAT STRAINED

IKELING BETWEEN BRITAIN AND DOMINION COMPLAINT TO GOVERNMENT (Press Association!. WELLINGTON. May 21. Some indication of tho Government's policy regarding British imports was "sought by a. deputation from the United Kingdom Manufacturers and New Zealand Representatives Association that waited on the Prime Minister, the lit. Hon. M. J. Savage, the Minister of Customs, the Hon. W. Nash, and tho Minister of Industries and Commerce, the Hon. D. G. Sullivan, to-day. It was stated by the deputation that merchants were afraid to operate in tho absence of some clarification of the Government’s intentions, and that because of the high landing charges here and the consequent handicaps the feeling of goodwill he tween New Zealand and tho United Kingdom industrialists, was somewhat strained.

One speaker claimed that New Zealand could take at least another 30 per cent, of goods from Britain. Mr Nash emphasised tho necessity for developing the secondary inclustrie£Tof the Dominion, and for arrang ing Bilateral agreements. He indicated that it was New Zealand’s intention to give Britain Jir-st chance when it came to entering reciprocal agreements. Mr Savago agreed that the trade between tho Dominion and Britain must ho extended, and he hoped he would] bo able to count on co-opera-tion from members of tho association and the interests they represented. He repeated his assertion that the rate of 1 exchange had 1 to came down, and that tho sales tax must come off and assured the deputation that tlie Government would not do anything to its detriment.