IMPORT RESTRICTIONS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24432, 18 October 1940, Page 9

IMPORT RESTRICTIONS

COMPLAINT BY BRITISH MANUFACTURERS REPLY BY MR NASH (Per United Press Association) WELLINGTON, Oct. 17. Commenting this evening onJ'* l ® statement from the United Kingdom manufacturers and New Zealand Representatives’ Association published m this week’s press, the Minister of Finance. Mr W. Nash said that the answer to the cablegram publisned with the statement was:— First, the United Kingdom Government had urged the New Zealand Government to confine its imports to essential commodities. . . Secondly after provision had been made to meet the debt and other commitments authority had been g J ven for the issue of import licences for the full value of the estimated sterling which would be available in 1941. Thirtly instructions in connection with the authorities for licensing contain a provision that any goods which it is essential to import must, if available from that source, be imported from the United Kingdom

The United Kingdom Manufacturers and New Zealand Representatives’ Association recently received the following cablegram from the Birmingham Chamber of Commerce: —“ The United Kingdom manufacturers are able and anxious to export to New Zealand Thev are however gravely disappointed at the severity of the import restrictions as well as with regard to the ungenerous time limit imposed for the fourth period Shipping conditions consequent upon the war justify latitude by the New Zealand Government which understands the conditions fully It knows that exports from the United Kingdom are vital to t the successful prosecution of the war.” Commenting on the message. Mr £, A Christie president of the United Kingdom Manufacturers and New Zealand Representatives’ Association, said the cablegram disoelled anv doubt regarding the ability and desire of United Kingdom manufacturers and exporters to supply this market and emphasised that New Zealand must import from the United Kingdom to the fullest possible extent in order to respond to the United Kingdom war export drive. Unfortunately New Zealand restrictions on United Kingdom imports for 1941 would prevent a full response to the urgent demands of the United Kingdom manufacturers for more exports. It was evident that the ruling that licences to import goods would expire on December 31 if goods did not arrive in New Zealand by that date was viewed with general disapproval and disappointment by the British manufacturers The cablegram, he added, must cause New Zealanders to wonder whether the import restrictions by prohibiting the importation of no fewer than 320 tariff items and subitems out of a total of 632 were in step with the battle cry of the United Kingdom: “Export or expire—Britain delivers the goods.” *