IMPORTS CONTROL

Waikato Times, Volume 106, Issue 22612, 17 May 1945, Page 6

IMPORTS CONTROL

LABOUR’S POST-WAR POLICY Argument in support of the retention of State control and selection of imports preferably from the United Kingdom, was submitted by Mr C. A. Barrell, official Labour candidate, in an address to electors at the > airfield School last night. Mr G Shirley presided over a good attendance, and the supporting speakers were Messrs Ivor Grice and J. Jones, the party’s organiser. If import controls were abolished, said Mr Barrell, New Zealand would soon fall back to the position it was forced into during 1935. The country would be quickly swamped with all j kinds of imported goods to the! serious disadvantage of New Zealand manufacturers, and many factories' ani thousands of workers would be; deprived of their right to full employment. It was essential to preserve j a balanced national economy, and for that reason a measure of control and careful selection of imports must be retained. Every commodity that could be produced in New Zealand i should be manufactured here, while such commodities that could not be adequately produced locally should preferably be imported from Great Britain. Heritage of Prosperity It was not his intention, said the! candidate, to rake the stony ground. ! The older generation would never forget the economic punishment they I suffered under the Nationalist regime and if the younger generation realised and appreciated their good fortune they would not vole away their heritage of prosperity from the Labour Government. It was necessary to look toward the future, because the Labour Government was going right ahead to implement its full policy of humanitarian* legislation. The candidate was accorded a vote of thanks and confidence. Later in the evening, Mr Barrell, supported by Mr A. G. Osborne, M.P., addressed a meeting of electors in NawLon Hali,, Frankton. where Mr C. Grieves presided. After Mr Barrell discussed post-war policy and elaborated j solutions the meeting unanimously pazsed a vote of confidence.