BRITISH IMPORTS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXX, 22 May 1936, Page 5

BRITISH IMPORTS

POLICY OF GOVERNMENT INDICATION SOUGHT BY MANUFACTURERS (By Telegraph—Press Association) . WELLINGTON, This Day. Some indication of the 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 Hon. M. J. Savage. The Minister of Customs, 'the Hon. W. Nash, and the Minister of Industries and Commerce, the Hon- D. G. Sullivan, were also present. It was stated by the deputation that the Merchants were afraid to operate in the absence of some clarification of the Government’s intentions, and that because of high landing charges here and consequent handicaps the feeling of goodwill between New Zealand and the United Kingdom industrialists was somewhat strained. One speaker claimed that New Zealand could take at least another thirty per cent, of goods from Britain. Mr Nash emphasised the necessity for developing the secondary industries of the Dominion and for arranging bilateral agreements. He indicated that it was New Zealand’s intention to give Britain first chance when it came to entering reciprocal agreements. Mr Savage agreed that trade between the Dominion and Britain must he extended and he hoped he would he able to count on co-operation from members of the Association and interests they represented, in assisting Mr Nash to put his case to the British Government. Mr Savage repeated his assertion that the rate of exchange had to come down and that the sales tax must come off, and assured the deputation that the Government would not do anything to its detrimen.