CONTROL OF IMPORTS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXII, 27 January 1939, Page 9

CONTROL OF IMPORTS

REGULATIONS CONDEMNED

UNNECESSARY AND UNJUST CONFERENCE RESOLUTION ALTERNATIVE PLAN URGED f United Preßß Association! WELLINGTON. This Day. After hearing: the address by the Minister of Customs, the Hon. W. Nash, on Wednesday and submitting to him yesterday a list of questions, some of his answers to which were regarded as completely unsatisfactory, the national import conference, which concluded in Wellington yesterday afternoon, condemned the Government's import control regulations as impracticable, unnecessary and unjust. The conference gave consideration to possible alternatives to the regulations, and approved an alternative procedyre submitted by the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce. It elected a special committee to make a reasoned reply to the Minister’s opening address, to express considered views on Mr Nash’s replies to questions, to make clear to the consuming public its objections to the regulations and outline the advantages of the alternative proposal. The conference, which was convened by the Associated Chambers of Commerce of New Zealand, in conjunction with the New Zealand Importers’ Federation, was attended by more than 700 business men from all parts of the Dominion. The following statement, covering the proceedings held in committee yesterday afternoon after the Minister had replied to questions, was supplied to the Press last night:— “In the afternoon, the conference gave consideration to the policy speech which had been delivered by the Minister of Customs and Finance, Mr Nash, on the Wednesday, and recorded its views on a number of aspects of that speech. It then discussed the replies which Mr Nash had made to the conference on the questions which had been prepared and presented to him. “A vote of thanks was accorded to the Minister for his explanation of the policy of the Government and for his helpful replies to many of the questions which had been asked him on points of procedure under the import regulations. The Minister’s replies to several important questions, the object of which was to get 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 representations. GRAVE CONCERN EXPRESSED “The conference then went on to deal with the second part of its agenda, namely, the question of the desirability or otherwise of the 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 administration, was reviewed. The disastrous results of the regulations to date were revealed in the numerous cases of hardship that were cited by various speakers, and the conference expressed grave concern at the apparently inevitable further dislocation of business and 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 on 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. ALTERNATIVE SCHEME “Addressing itself to the subject of a possible alternative to the existing regulations, the conference, after consideration of various proposals, approved an alternative procedure submitted by the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce in terms of the following resolution:— This conference is of opinion that the conditions existing as a result of the import regulations gazetted on sth December, 1938, are so disastrous to business in New Zealand that this conference recommends to the Government the following modification of the import regulations: Having regard to the following objectives, namely, conseravtion of sterling, protection of local manufactured lines, and alterations in the direction of trade, that the Government:— (a) Fix 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) Protect articles of local manufacture by listing such goods as are to be prohibited entry or restricted by means of permit. (c) Vary the direction of trade by listing items subjected tp restriction from countries: • fd» Se up u in • *;■ 1 tribunal consisting of men ;k lied in trade and commerce, associated with Govern- ! ment officials, to hear and decide appeals. COMMITTEE ELECTED “Finally, the conference elected a special committee under the aegis of the Associated Chambers of Commerce, the duties of such committee to be: (J) To make a reasoned reply to the Minister’s opening address: (2) to tabulate and express the considered views of the conference on the replies given by Mr Nash to the questions addressed co him by the conference, and (3) 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.”