COUNTRY'S PLIGHT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23507, 18 November 1939, Page 13

COUNTRY'S PLIGHT

• GOVERNMENT blamed .! OUTSPOKEN CRITICISM COMMERCIAL INTERESTS DISASTER PREDICTED r ß y TELKCaiAni—OWN CORIIESI'ONDKNT] WELLINGTON, Friday "We find ourselves to-day under the jjeel of a dictatorship; you can call it . jiotliing else," said Mr. C. W. Budd, vice-president, when ho seconded the adoption of tho report at the annual meeting in Wellington to-day of the / .United Kingdom Manufacturers and js T ew Zealand Representatives' Association. M r - Budd said no business men in any country in tho British Empire }iad faced such troubles and had been met with such unfair tactics as in New Zealand. If .the Government persisted in its e.Npcrimental legislation in 6earcli for Utopia, then nothing would stop disaster, Mr. Budd continued. The Prime Minister, Mr. Savage, had threatened to act against critics. Ho hoped Mr. Savage was not thinking of internment camps. Mr. Budd said to'-day's position was gerious and lie could not sec how manv of them would extricate themselves from it. The British manufacturer was going to lose interest in tJio New Zealand market. He was busy, could sell his goods and get payment in London within a week, whereas trading with New Zealand he had to wait a year. Britain could get supplies elsewhere than New Zealand. Ships from England could make two trips to the Argentine in tho time taken for ono to New Zealand. only that, but chips could be sent from England to the Argentine full. Ottawa Agreement

Mr. David Hogg, president of the association, said the stage had been reached for a full public realisation of the position, and it was up to members to ventilate it to the best of their ability. The association's policy was tho abolition of the restriction on. goods from the United Kingdom so as to work within the Ottawa agreement. When the association's representatives saw jthe Minister of Customs, the Hon. W. Nash, he did not admit tho import regulations to be a breach of the Ottawa agreement, but later in London he acknowledged this to be so. As usual the British Government showed great magnanimity and waived its rights pro tem to help New Zealand, added tho president. The association had always claimed that as Great Britain was the only stable market for New Zealand produce it was entitled to a full share of imports into New Zealand. With this in view the association had done much work trying to impress on United Kingdom industrialists through their associations the importance of working for full reciprocity. These efforts had been effective, as wns shown by advices received that as soon as the financial position of New Zealand improved they in the United Kingdom would press strongly for tho right to trade under tho terms of the customs tariff as it now stood. Cause and Effects

Mr. Nash had stated the cause of tho regulations to bo depicted sterling funds in London, brought about by over-importation, the transfer of capital and the investment of capital i overseas. Mr. Nash did not mention that the cause of these efFects was the Government's policy. With the Empire at war New Zealand found itself with depleted stocks and consumers would have to pay dearly. The British Government had announced its policy of maintaining its export trade to the fullest possible extent. It was regrettable that New Zealand should have ' been put 4n a position where it would not bo able to contribute more in this direction. This was more regrettable when New Zealand's defence dependence on the Motherland was realised.

"Because of the shortage of stocks, unemployment will increase rapidly," said Mr. Hogg. "Merchants and distributors will be forced to reduce staffs, and this condition will permeate the whole fabric of society in this country. 3t must be agreed that the standard of living in the community is governed by its production, and therefore wage rates and hours of work cannot take precedence to this vital fact." Call for a Lead Given a sound lead by tho Government, Mr. Hogg felt sure the country as a whole would respond toward overcoming the difficulty in which it was placed. That lead would call for the bringing into active operation of three principles on which the nation could hope to live and build soundly for itself and posterity—sacrifice, discipline and "Our forefathers faced the position in this way," concluded Mr. Hogg, "but New Zealand has experienced such a long period of prosperity that those principles have been replaced by a desire for luxury, comfort and selfindulgence.'" Mr. A. W. Caldwell said something constructive' and concrete should be offered the Government, not continual criticism. The only solution of the Government's problem was, in his opinion, to borrow. He was in Germany last year and in Czecho-Slovakia during the crisis there, and he was convinced on returning to New Zealand that there was a Nazi form of Government here. Mr. Hogg: Who is the Government to borrow i'roni ? Mr. Caldwell: That is their business. Mr. Hogg: Yes, but it is important, Bone tho less. £20,000,000 Loan Mr. Caldwell suggested a £20,000,000 loan-for export credits. Mr. W. Bacon: Who will lend to a Government which has already squandered what it had? -Mr. Caldwell said he had not heard any constructive suggestion ottered the Government.

,Mr. Hogg replied that tho.association «ad ottered to co-operate, but had not been called upon, Mr. Caldwell said conditions were the same hero as in Germany, with the exception that Jews were not shot in Now Zealand. Mr. Budd said that if anyone could fee a desire on tho Government s part io enlist the help of the business community, every business man in New Zealand would be glad to help. Instead, tho Government was continuing with socialism until it had everything in its mesh.

t Occupations Taken Away ' The word "Nazi" meant National Socialism, said 'Mr. Caldwell. Mr. G. L. Giescn said that if the present Government could bo defeated a ■loan could be obtained within 24 hours the happening. Tho import regulations had not assisted the sterling posiF ,o n. Instead, the occupations of decent ■adustrious citizens who had never the Government for a penny had etl taken away. Ministers said there + a l 110 shortage of stocks. Let one try f° b »v a pound of tea. It took him an flour recentlv to buy two half-pound Packets. Mr. Savage said to carry 011 /tn S 'i lcSs as usual, but when a mart tried v 1 j' o this lie was hedged, dodged, " uff eted and pushed about. Now they ®ro told anyone criticising the GovTi?° Nt Col| !d hc charged with sedition. 0 association's report was .then