BRITISH GOODS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26746, 15 April 1948, Page 5

BRITISH GOODS

IMPORTS TO DOMINION P.A. CHRISTCHURCH, Apl. 14. “ It is high time that the argument about whether New Zealand is locking out Britain’s exports or whether Britain has asked New Zealand to limit her imports of British goods is settled,” said the Leader of the Opposition, Mr Holland, in a speech mis evening. " Britain has stated in clearest terms that she must increase her exports substantially, and indeed, is allocating her vital raw materials to those manufacturers who undertake to ship finished products overseas. Next we hear of importer after importer being refused licences to import British goods, which are definitely available for export from Britain to New Zealand, and now we are told by Britain that import restrictions in overseas markets are holding Britain back from achieving her export target. Then Mr Nash comes along and tells us all is well. Who are we to believe? ” asked Mr Holland.

“Mr Nash consistently harps on the' value of imports from Britain in 1948 being related to the value of imports from Britain in 1938, and he claims that on that basis licences are being issued'for a reasonable supply of the goods concerned,” Mr Holland said. “ What Mr Nash knows perfectly well, but what he studioUsly avoids saying, is that prices have advanced to such an extent that in many cases less than half the quantity of goods can be imported in 1948 with the same amount of money used in 1938. What Mr Nash also carefully avoids telling the people is that many of the 1938 sources of supply have now been cut off, which makes the position that much worse, and cases could be quoted where imports have been reduced by 75 per cent, and more because licences are issued in relation to 1938, since when prices have increased by more than double in many cases, and also because certain 1938 sources of supply are no longer available. “ The import licensing system has become chaotic,” Mr Holland concluded, “and many people are suspicious that the withholding of licences is because Mr Nash is determined to pay off debts to Britain which, if correct. cuts right across his earlier statement that we should never endeavour to pay off debts while our people go short of the things they need.”