N.Z.’S POSITION

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18068, 20 April 1933, Page 8

N.Z.’S POSITION

QUESTION OF EMBARGO EFFECT ON PETROL SUPPLIES (Special to the Hera hi.) WELLINGTON, this day. In the absence from Wellington of the Prime Minister, the lit. Hon. G. \V. Forbes, and the lit. Hon. G. Conies, Minister ol: Customs, no authoritative information is available on the question of whether IjTcw Zealand will follow Britain’s example in prohibiting imports from Russia.

For many years they have been so small that the customs include them in the general total, but the situation changed when a new organisation recently imported 2,500,000 gallons of petrol from Batouin. Prior to Mr. Forbes’ departure for the south, lie tvas questioned on Russian imports, replying that in I lie event of the Home Government deciding to take action under the Russian Goods Import Prohibition Act, New Zealand would no doubt follow suit. He did not think legislation was necessary to deal with any situation which might arise, as the Government already possessed the necessary powers for restricting imports.

Inquiries in trade circles disclose that there wore no further Russian petrol shipments on the way. New Zealand’s imports from Russia were, valued in 1929 at £27.034; 1920. C 21.587; 1821. £15.605: 1932. £8833. hut in the first three mouths of this year they suddenly increased to £32,179. In prior years, the only substantial item comprised furs and skins, though a small amount of Iwish-making material also was bought from the Soviet.

PREMIER QUESTIONED

CABINET MEETS MONDAY (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, this day. Interviewed by telephone, at. his home at ’Cheviot to-day, the Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes said the Government would take into iimrielilato consideration the question of prohibiting imports of Russian goods into New Zealand on the. lines of the action taken hv the British Government.

He was returning to Wellington on Sunday, and the Cabinet would be convened on Monday to discuss the situation.