Alternatives to Regulation Presented

Northern Advocate, 27 January 1939, Page 6

Alternatives to Regulation Presented

TRADE DECREES

[Per Press Association. Copyright.) WELLINGTON, This Day.

The following statement has been issued covering the proceedings held in committee yesterday afternoon by the Dominion conference of importers, which has now concluded;

. The Minister’s replies to several important questions, the object of which was to get a disclosure of the details of the Government’s policy, were regarded by the conference as being completely unsatisfactory, and it was decided that they should be the subject of further representation.

The conference then went on to deal with the second part of the agenda—the question of the desirability or otherwise of import, regulations as a means of conserving London funds. The whole position, as revealed by the policy speech of the Minister and his replies to questions on the administration, was reviewed.

Great Hardship Created.

The disastrous results of the regulations to date were revealed in numerous cases of hardship that were cited, and the conference expressed grave concern a’n regard to the apparent inevitable further dislocation of business and the consequent hardship to employers and employees.

The following resolution was carried: “That this national conference of importers condemns as impracticable, unnecessary and unjust the import control regulations, 1938.”

Arising out of the general discussion of the regulations and their probable effect on the financial position of the country, as disclosed by the Minister, a further resolution was carried in the following terms:

“That the Minister of Finance be urged to make a public statement as to the extent to which the Government intends to cut down public expenditure in New Zealand as well as the value of imports by the Government, with a view to relieving the present serious financial difficulty.”

Other Courses Open.

Addressing itself to the subject of a possible alternative to the existing regulation, the conference, after consideration of various proposals, approved the alternative procedure submitted by the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce in the terms of the following resolution: —

“This conference is of the opinion that the conditions existing as a result of the import regulations gazetted on December 5, 1938, are so disastrous to business in New Zealand that this conference recommends to the Government the following modification of the import regulation:

“Having regard to the conservation of sterling, the protection of local manufactured lines and alterations in the direction of trade, that the Government: (a) Fixes the amount of sterling each importer can use for 12 months, based on, say, one, two or three years’ average imports, less whatever percentage the Government considers necessary to conserve sterling funds; (b) protects articles of local manufacture by listing such goods as are to be prohibited entry or restricted, by means of permit; (c) varies the direction of trade by listing items subjected to restriction from certain countries; (d) sets up. an import tribunal consisting of men skilled in trade and commerce, associated with Government officials, to hear and decide appeals.”

Special Committee Set Up

Finally the conference selected a special committee under the aegis of the Associated Chambers of Commerce, the duties of such committee to be to make a reasoned reply to the Minister’s opening address, to tabulate- and express the considered views ■of the conference on the replies given by Mr Nash to the questions addressed to him by the conference, and to make clear to the consuming public the objections of the conference to the present regulations, and to explain fully the merits and advantages of the alternative constructive proposal recommended by the conference.