CHECK ON IMPORTS

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXVI, Issue 223, 3 September 1936, Page 8

CHECK ON IMPORTS

A Fair Run for N.Z. Manufacturers

MR SAVAGE’S ASSURANCE

By Telegraph—Press Association. WELLINGTON, Sept. 2. An emphatic declaration that the flooding of New Zealand markets with products of cheap labour from overseas would not be tolerated was made by the Prime Minister, the Bt. Hon. M. J. Savage, in an Interview after he had received a private deputation from the New Zealand Manufacturers’ Federation,

Mr Savage said that there was no for panio in the minds of representatives of legitimate manufacturing industries. At the same time the Government would not allow the doors of any New Zealand factories to be closed or any legitimate business which was now being done by representatives of overseas firms to be lost. tihe Prime Minister said that representatives of the Manufacturers' Federation were concerned about the positina of manufacturers in respect to increased costs due to Shorter hours and higher rates of pay, and they were also aigud of orders going overseas to their d/sadvantage. They had admitted qifflis frankly that some orders must as New Zealand had to eagtamge goods with Britain. yAThey are asking for a fair run,” sjM Mr Savage, “and I have assured the* that the importer has no more guarantee of being able to get his landed cost in respect to things he is bringing here than the manufacturer has of collecting his manufacturing costs. Our job is to protect the manufacturer in New Zealand and, at the same time, balance our trade with Britain. i**The manufacturers think that ultimately the New Zealand market will ba swamped with imported goods and theloeal manufacturer put out of busiqees. I told them that that would not happen. We are pledged not only to the manufacturers but to the people of New Zealand to see that there is substantial development in the secondary industries. We are pledged to that and we are not going to do anything less.

"It would be just as well for people sending large orders abroad to know that we are not going to allow unlimited imports to break down the living conditions of the people of New Zealand. In effect, the importer cannot expect and will not be allowed to get any advantage out of reduced hours and increased wages.”