IMPORTED GOODS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXIII, 10 December 1940, Page 2

IMPORTED GOODS

POSITION LEADING UP TO SHORTAGE i GOVERNMENT POLICY HELD RESPONSIBLE [United Press Association] WELLINGTON, This Day. The education of the public to the fact that shortages of imported goods were brought about by legislation in- ! troduced before the war and made op- ! erative then, was urged by Mr S. B. ! Browne, at the annual meeting in Wellington yesterday of the United Kingdom Manufacturers and New Zealand Representatives’ Association. Mr Browne said there was an erroneous j public impression that the war was rej sponsible for the shortage. The people should be told that the shortage was brought about by the Labour Government at the dictation of Mr Nash. The j shortage was produced before the war and this should be well publicised bej fore the 1941 general election, i Mr W. Bacon said that members had , overwhelming evidence of the desire of ; United Kingdom manufacturers for ; more trade with New Zealand. The ! association had cables from the Birmi ingham Chamber of Commerce and j other important bodies urging help to ! the British exporters. Mr Nash had | stated that the United Kingdom manufacturer might wish to increase exports to New Zealand, but the United I Kingdom Government did not wish this j The United Kingdom Government had control of exports because a permit j was required before goods could be sent I out. Therefore the United Kingdom I Government could regulate the posi--1 tion as far as it desired and there was 1 no need for New Zealand restrictions on imports from the United Kingdom. I Mr J. Sadler said he was much con- | cerned at the attitude of Mr Nash rei garding the cancellation of orders j which could not be shipped in time to arrive here in accordance with import j schedules. Under ordinary commer- : cial morality an order could not be i cancelled: he doubted if it could be | done legally. They might come to the I position where United Kingdom manufacturers would not trade without j cash first. A disclaimer should be made to the United Kingdom manufacturers by the New Zealand importers. The dairy-farmers had expressed “no, confidence” in Mr Nash: their association should do the same. Mr R. J. Booth: We have all the j responsibility and no control; the Gov- I ernment has all the control and no i responsibility. Mr J. Matthews suggested that the i association should have the opportunity j to state what it considered essential! commodities. Mr Budd said that a trade union had ordered a £l9B dish-washing machine. l It was to come from the United States. ' The firm with which the order was' placed was refused an import license for , it. The union then took up the matter j and the refusal was withdrawn.