Truth About N.Z. Pottery Imports Explodes Cabled Story

Grey River Argus, 18 December 1948, Page 5

Truth About N.Z. Pottery Imports Explodes Cabled Story

PA WELLINGTON, December 17. ‘“in order that the public shall not be misled by some of the ridiculous statements included in a cable the?" sage from the United Kingdom this week, regarding pottery and china imports, it is necessary to give some of the facts”, stated Mr D. I. Macdonald, secretary of the New Zealand Manufacturers’ Federation to-day. “In 1938 there were 37,000 cwt of "hinaware and pottery imported into ‘New Zealand from the United Kingdom This figure rose to 42,000 cwt fn 1946, and to 51,000 cwt in 1947. . “I have given these figures in quantity, rather than in value, as the .substantial increases in the overseas prices distort the real picture. The figures* already available show that there will be upwards of 50,000 cwt imported from the United Kingdom in 1948. “The 1949 license schedule permits 50 per cent, in value of the 1948 imnorts and, consequently, about 25,000 cwt should be imported in 1949. This is over 60 per cent, of the volume of the 1938 imports, and not eight per cent as some claimant in the United Kingdom has suggested, no doubt being inspired by a small section of unimportant importers in New Zea- ( land”. i f