BRITISH EXPORTS

Waikato Times, Volume 195, Issue 22513, 23 November 1944, Page 9

BRITISH EXPORTS

PROSPECTS AFTER WAR EFFECT IN NEW ZEALAND (Special to Times.) PALMERSTON N., Thursday A fortnight ago the Associated Chambers of Commerce sent the following cable to the Federation of Chambers of Commerce of the British Empire in London:— “Can you provide us promptly with particulars of official British Government policy as regards the postwar export of goods to the New Zealand market? The position that is developing here is that the Government is looking to locally manufactured supplies of goods obtainable pre-war from Britain but not now obtainable from Britain within a measurable period ahead, including post-war. “When in Australia our secretary was informed on good authority that Britain is likely to retain export controls and quotas on the Dominion markets for four or five years. If so, what is the answer to the case for local industrial expansion, which will be to the detriment of British export trade? As an instance, the New Zealar Government is now calling tenders for the manufacture of builders’ hardware for the State housing programme, on the ground of the inability of Britain fully to meet sponsored orders. Orders sought and quotations given by individual British firms to firms here are not necessarily evidence of the availability of goods, and are therefore inadequate as an argument by New Zealand importers.” Board of Trade Reply The president of the Associated Chambers, Mr Stronach Paterson, at the conference last night announced that within the last few days they had received the following cable in reply:— “The Board of Trade says the rumour that supplies are unlikely to be available for five years after the war is entirely without foundation. The Government is determined to remove the restrictions on export as early as possible, but the date must vary with the commodity. British productive capacity has greatly increased during the war. Exports will be essential to pay our way, so you can rely on a maximum effort to meet the needs of the New Zealand market. The federation is convinced that New Zealand will stand with us in peace as in war.” Clarification Wanted “The point I want to make,” £aid Mr Paterson, “is that, apart from where the interests of importers and New Zealand manufacturers lie, they all want to know where they stand—what post-war arrangements are going to be. The Associated Chambers of Commerce has ed this clear pronouncement from the Eritish Board of Trade. Surely the New Zealand Government, with its official contacts, is better able to obtain such information than we are. Yet it has not done so—or, if it has done so, the New Zealand public has not been given the information. “Clarification of important external questions affecting the internal post-war economy of the Dominion is apparently not as difficult to effect as we are led to believe. It seems plain that the broad basis of post-war economic activity in New Zealand can be enunciated now if the Government is willing, but in fact the Government persistently avoids the issue and seems to prefer to leave industry and commerce guessing. ”