UNSATISFACTORY

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20715, 27 January 1939, Page 8

UNSATISFACTORY

MINISTER’S EXPLANATION REGULATIONS CONDEMNED ALTERNATIVE PLAN ADVANCED (By Telegraph.—Press Association) WELLIXGTON, Thursday The following statement, has been issued covering the proceedings held in committee this afternoon by the Dominion conference of importers, which has now concluded:— The Minister’s replies to several important questions, the object of which was to get a disclosure of the details of the Government’s policy, were regarded by the conference as being completely unsatisfactory, and it was decided that they should be the subject of further representations. The conference then went on to deal with the second part of the agenda, the question of the desirability or otherwise of import regulations as a means of conserving London funds. The whole position as revealed by the policy speech of the Minister and his replies to questions on the administration was reviewed. Disastrous Results The disastrous results of the regulations to date were revealed in numerous cases of hardship that were cited, and the conference expressed grave concern in regard to the apparently inevitable further dislocation of business and the consequent hardship to employers and employees. The following resolution was carried :—“That this national conference of importers condemns as impracticable, unnecessary and unjust the import control regulations. 1938.” Arising out of the general discussion on the regulations and their probable effect on the financial position of the country, as disclosed by the Minister, a further resolution was* carried in the following terms: —“That the Minister of Finance be urged to make a public statement as to the extent to which the Government intends to cut down public expenditure in New Zealand, as well as the value of imports by the Government with a view to relieving the present serious financial difficulty.” Modification Urged Addressing itself to the subject of a possible alternative to the existing regulations, the conference, after consideration of various proposals, ap- | proved the alternative procedure submitted by the Canterbury 'Chamber of Commerce in the terms of the following resolution:—“The conference is of the opinion that, the conditions existing as a result of the Import regulations gazetted on December 5, 1938, are so disastrous to business in New Zealand that this conference recommends to the Government the following modification of the import regulations : “Having regard to the conservation of sterling, the protection of local manufactured lines and alterations in the direction of trade, that the Government (a) fixes the amount of sterling each importer can use for 12 months, based on, say, one, two or three years’ average imports, less whatever percentage the Government considers necessary to conserve sterling funds: (b) protects articles of local manufacture by listing such goods as are to be prohibited entry or restricted by means of permit: (c) varies the direction of trade by listing items subject to restriction from certain countries: (d sets up an import tribunal consisting of men skilled in trade and commerce, associated with Government officials, to hear and decide appeals.” Replies Proposed Finally the conference elected a special committee under the aegis of the Associated Chambers £f Commerce, the duties of such committee to be to make a reasoned reply to the Minister’s opening address, to tabulate and express the considered views of the conference on the replies given by Mr Nash to the questions addressed to him by the conference, and to make clear to the consuming public the objections of the conference to the present regulations, and to explain fully the merits and advantages of the alternative constructive proposal recommended by the conference. FIRMS CEASING BUSINESS QUESTION OF COMPENSATION (Special to Times) WELLINGTON, Thursday A question put to Mr Nash at the importers’ conference to-day was whether there was any intention of compensating firms that had been put out of business by the import restrictions; and, if so, to what extent. “I am afraid I cannot go into that just now,” replied the Minister. “I do not know whether it would be practicable to work out a compensation period, because I can take this into account —even if we were not going the road we are going to-day, you would still be compelled to rei strict imports. Imports into the Doi minion during the next 12 months I must be restricted.” If the person ! who asked that question cared to put it in, he would endeavour to write a reply to him.