CHEAP FOREIGN GOODS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLII, Issue 20513, 3 September 1936, Page 8

CHEAP FOREIGN GOODS

LOCAL MARKETS NOT TO BE FLOODED EMPHATIC DECLARATION BY MR SAVAGE Bv r?ies?raph Association WELLINGTON, September 2. An emphatic declaration that the flooding of New Zealand markets with the products of cheap labour from overseas would not be tolerated was made by the Prime Minister (Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage) in an interview after he had received a private deputation from the New Zealand Manufacturers Federation. Mr Savage said there was no need for panic in the minds of the representatives of legitimate manufacturing industries. At the same time the Government would not allow the doors of any New Zealand factories to be closed or any legitimate business which was now being done by representatives of overseas firms to be lost. Tlie Prime Minister said that the representatives of the Manufacturers Federation were concerned about the position of manufacturers in respect of Increased costs due to shorter hours and higher rates of pay and they were also afraid of orders going overseas to their disadvantage. They had admitted quite frankly that some orders must go overseas as New Zealand had to exchange goods with Britain. “They are asking for a fair run,” said Mr Savage, “and I have assured them that the importer has no more guarantee of being able o get his landed cost in respect to things he is bringing here than the manufacturer has of collecting his manufacturing costs Our job is to protect the manufacturer in New Zealand and at the same time balance our trade with Britain. Manufacturers think that ultimately the New Zealand market will be swamned with imported goods and the local manufacturer put out of business. I told them that that would not happen. We are pledged not only to the manufacturers but to the people of New Zealand to see that there is a substantial development in the secondary industries. We are pledged to that and we are not going to do anything less. “It is just as well for people sending large orders abroad to know that we are not going to allow unlimited imports to break down the living conditions of the people of New Zealand. In effect, the importer cannot expect and will not be allowed to get any advantage out of reduced hours and increased wages.”