Nullification Of Trade Decrees

Northern Advocate, 10 January 1939, Page 6

Nullification Of Trade Decrees

Vice-Regal Stay Sought Pending Appeal To Full Court

'• • [Special to “Northern Advocate ”] AUCKLAND, This Day. MEETING ATTENDED BY OVER 4C» REPRESENTATIVES OF IM-

PORTING HOUSES AND A SPRINKLING OF MANUFACTURERS, DECIDED TODAY TO REQUEST THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL TO ISSUE A PROCLAMATION THAT WOULD NULLIFY THE OPERATIONS OF THE IMPORT REGULATIONS UNTIL SUCH TIME AS THE FULL COURT COULD HEAR EVIDENCE AND DECIDE UPON THE VALIDITY OF THE MEASURES.

' It was announced that advice had been received from a distinguished counsel who expressed the opinion that the regulations were invalid and could be upset on an appeal. Accordingly, legal machinery has been set in motion to have the case tested by the Full Court.

The meeting was a public one, convened by the Bureau cf Importers, and held in the Chamber of Commerce Hall.

“In my opinion never before in any British country have the rights of the individual been so ruthlessly attacked,” said Mr W. A. Boucher, President of the Bureau, who presided.

t' “The import control regulations savour of the Dark Ages, and it behoves those of us who have spent a lifetime in developing our businesses to see that they are not destroyed in one swoop by the Government, which seems to have a complete disregard for everything and everybody.” Widespread Dislocation. Mr Boucher added that the reaction of these regulations would be felt not only by importers and manufacturers’ representatives and indent agents, but by shipping companies, banks, insurance companies, transport organisations and harbour boards. Clerks, storemen, carriers, and salesmen would no doubt be discharged in considerable numbers, and the Government’s action would result not only in the destruction of businesses, but would throw out. of. employment young people who had been trained in specialised businesses. Mr Boucher said there were also other phases which the Government Ipd overlooked, such as the leases of premises, time payments*, financial arrangements with countries such as Canada and the United States, and violation of trade agreements such as the Ottawa Agreement. Towards Monopolies. “I am absolutely confident that if instructions had been given to the trading banks, funds would have been made available for legitimate business only, and the position would have corrected itself during the course of the next few months.” Mr Boucher warned the general public that consumers in the cities and primary producers in the countr? would be seriously affected. There would be no competition, and business would be thrown into the hands of trusts and monopolies, which could demand any price for in many cases inferior products.

Many Dismissals Probable,

There Was a frank exchange of views and numerous individual instances of drastic reductions were quoted.

Those present were asked to state the number of employees at present on their staffs and the number of these' whom they would be compelled to discharge owing to a lessened turnover.

The figures were: Number employed, 4454; number to be discharged, 1702.

An analysis of these returns, made later, showed that only half of those present supplied figures, many stating that they had not yet received their licenses and were unable to state exactly to what extent they would be affected.

Mr Boucher stated that the gathering, and others of a similar nature in other centres, could be regarded as the most vital in the commercial history of the Dominion. A speaker advanced the viewpoint that in the long run the legislation would have an adverse effect upon the section it was designed to assist—namely, the manufacturers. He contended that the legislation should be opposed in its entirety 'as being detrimental to the interests of the public as a whole.

Appeal to Governor Only Step Left, “The Regulations are, in my opinion, invalid,” stated Mr J. Hislop, a wellknown businessman. “We have done all that we possibly can to secure a measure of redress. We have telegraphed to the Minister on two occasions. and our telegrams have been ignored. “We have only one step to take—to appeal to the Governor-General, Lord Galway.” Mr Hislop quoted portion of the address given by His Majesty, King George VI., in his first address to the Frivy Council after his accession: “You may be assured that it is my determination to do all that lies within my power to safeguard the liberties of my people and promote their prosperity and contentment.” (Loud applause and cheers.) Validity Questionable.

“The contentment and prosperity of the people of the Dominion is seriously endangered, and we should go, in all humility, to the GovernorGeneral, as the representative of His Majesty, and ask him to issue a proclamation suspending the Regulations until their validity can be examined by the Full Court,” continued Mr Hislop.

The following resolution was also carried unanimously: “This largelyattended meeting of Auckland importers affirms the urgent necessity for a joint Dominion conference of all importing interests and instructs its executive to take the necessary action,"