BUSINESS DECLINE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23320, 12 October 1937, Page 6

BUSINESS DECLINE

EXCESSIVE IMPORTATIONS 1 MANUFACTURERS PERTURBED "1 WANT PROMISES FULFILLED (Special to Daily Times) AUCKLAND, Oct. 11. An explanation as to why the New Zealand Manufacturers’ Federation and district associations had not given full publicity recently to the effect on industries generally through excessive overseas importations was made by Mt F. N. Ambler, president of the Auckland Manufacturers’ Association, at £ meeting of the General Committee. Mr Ambler said that in view of the particular circumstances Mr H. W. Shove was justified in making the statement published on Saturday on the depression in the boot trade. “What is happening in the boot trade is happening in other industries, though perhaps not so acutely,’’ Mr Ambler said. At a subsequent stage of the meeting a letter was received from the New Zealand Manufacturers’ Federation, enclosing a copy of a communication it had addressed to the Minister of Industries and Commerce (Mr D. G. Sullivan), giving details of the position of 19 manufacturing firms affected by importations, which were in addition to the details of the position of over 200 manufacturing businesses already supplied to the Government. * The manager of one business, the communication ■ stated, had commented as follows: “ It does not seem to be realised by the Government that businesses do not stop suddenly when things go against them. The stopping progress ils gradual, because of the resiliency of a well-managed business. Business in New Zealand is running down like an unwound clock. It should be realised that it is so much easier to lose business than it is to regain it.” The letter intimated to the Minister that the members had apparently done their best to meet the president’s suggestion, that they should avoid shortening hands where this was at all possible. Reports coming tq hand, however, indicated that it was becoming a heavy burden and members were anxiously awaiting something tangible to justify their continuing on these lines. “ We have done our best to avoid embarrassing the Government,” Mr Ambler said. “We have been waiting on promises and we- now want them fulfilled.”