PERTINENT QUESTIONS FOR MR. NASH

Chronicle (Levin), 3 May 1946, Page 5

PERTINENT QUESTIONS FOR MR. NASH

(Special Correspondent.)

•* london exporters are not satisfied

Received Thursday 7..15 p.m. . LONDON, M;ay 2.' Questions on New Zealand 's im'por.t control policy are to be asked Hon. W. Nash when he addresses the London Ohamber of Commerce probably towaru the end of this nronth. At the annual meeting of the Chamber's Australian and New Zealand section, there was a general diseussioii on the subject anu though it is felt there were eertain objections which could be made, it was also felt it was not the responsibility of the London Ohamber to do so. It was the opinion of Mr. John McLean, chairman of the council, said Mr. A. de V. Leigh, who is secretary. that there mignt be a tendeney to got the London Ohamber to say things on the subjeet that might be used as political ammuni,tiori which would l)e undesirable. There were eertain tendentious questions associated with the subjeet and if the Lou don Chamber, which carried a good deai of weight voiced an opinion thereon, it might be suggested it was spOaking for Britain.

One question was whether 'New Zealand had carried out its undertaking under the memorandum signed by Mr. Nash in London in July 1939, but, saui Mr. Leigh, it was not for the London Chamber to say whether New Zealand had carried ont its bargain or not but for the British C4overnnient. ' While agreeing with Mr. Leigh, iur. B. Jacobs said if it were -necessary to answer the question on the memor.andum, it was known the New Zealand Government had not carried out its undertaking. But the memof-Wndum had been signed in 1939 and the position had radically changed during the war. He felt that' what Ihe Chamber desired was to get Mr. Nash to givoki f'r-esh. cxposition on the matter and throw a fresh picture on- tlie sereen: ' He -was particularly in.tei-ested-in 'tlie. questioi as to whether New Zealand''s -exchange rate should be continued". .b Mr. B. J. Large said exporters feljt the Neyv .Zealand Governmdht had ftof lived up to its promises but atthe same time, the hazardous and senous natnreof the war had caused many countries to improvise local production and, therefore, nothing could be held a.gainst Nevv Zealand for not earrying o.ut its undertaking. "They could not have carried it out and I don't tbink we. should ven-tuz-e an opinioxi as to what happened in the past, " he said, . ' In a general discussion rt was stated there were eertain c-ommodities which Britain could ship to New Zealand but

which the Government would not allow to be imported. This led Mr. F, C. Brown Douglas to state: "-Somebody has got to voice an. opinion on this subjeet but I do not think the British Government will do it. The Board ot Trade would say it was a domestic matter for New Zealand but actually it is also a doiuestic matter for \Britain for somehow or other her goods have to be absorbed. New Zealand has a very complicated importing system and I do.liopc this will be put before Mr. Nash." Quoting- figures of the present imports allowable, he said they sounded all right until compared with the 1938 figures, wlien they were found to be far below. "I don't feel New Zealand is honouring her agreement on 1939. She has not done hef stuff as far as our exports are concerned and somebod.y has to tell the Governm.ent."., Mr. H. O. Harries (chairjman of the Australian and New Zealand section): "I agree someone has to tell tliem but I don't think it is the London Chamber of Commerce." Major P. 8. Thomson said lie agreed with Mr. Leigh and added tliere was no. difficulty in going to the Government to obtain special lieences to export eertain lines of gopds. Mr. Harries: "I hope when you go baek to New Zealand you will tell your Labour Government to take off some of its restrictions. " He added that the positipn jouJd be sunnned up by saying New Zealand perhaps could do a litfcle better out now wasn't the opportune moment hr- the London Chamber to make any statement. The meeting decided to defer further discussion on the subjeet until it had an opportunity of .questioning and listening to Mr. Nash.