IMPORT CONTROL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26749, 19 April 1948, Page 8

IMPORT CONTROL

ABOLITION DESIRED POLICY OF DISCRIMINATION P.A. AUCKLAND, Apl. 17. “Despite anything Mr Nash has to say, he cannot justify New Zealand’s import control policy of discrimination against British goods, and to say that importers are permitted to import the equivalent values to 1938 is ridiculous,” says the Bureau of Importers in a statement issued this morning. In many cases to-day, says the bureau, importers, under the 1948 import schedule and on a basis of 1938 values, are able to import to 10 per cent, of the quantities imported from the United Kingdom in that year. In view of the fact that New Zealand's current export income is approximately double the 1938 figure and imports from Canada and the United States are practically prohibited, the imports should be increased from Britain and the policy of the bureau continues to be “abolition of import control on British goods ” immediately and ultimately the total abolition of all import restrictions. “It is easy for the Minister to try to defend the system and refer to the 1948 schedule, but importers know from experience that it is the administration that is at fault. If import control is to continue then nothing short of a commission to investigate the issue of licences would be acceptable to bulk importers.”