CONTROL OF IMPORTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27027, 11 March 1949, Page 6

CONTROL OF IMPORTS

Sir,—The Minister of Industries and Commerce, Mr Nordmeyer, commenting on the remarks of the Leader of the Opposition at Auckland on the subject of rationing, said: “ Surely Mr Holland must be aware that rationing in New Zealand applies only to butter and petrol." Perhaps it does, but what about the many different commodities, too numerous to mention, many of them essential to a decent standard of living, which are not rationed for the simple reason that they are not there to ration? In 1938, when the Import Control Bill was passed by the Labour Government, thev decided that, owing to the financial state of the country at that time, the importation of many goods ffom overseas must cease, and the people willingly acquiesced, believing it to be only a temporary measure for the good of the country To-dav, 11 vears later, these goods are still off the market, and it appears that the critical state of the country’s finances at that time was only an excuse for the Socialist Labour Government to pass the Import Control Bill, which all the time thev intended to be a permanent measure. If' a list could be published of all the goods, both luxury and otherwise, which were obtainable in any quantity at a reasonable price in the years before 1935, and they were not all depression years, it would be an eye-opener to many.—l am, etc.. J. D. M.