IMPORT CONTROL MYTH

Chronicle (Levin), 4 May 1949, Page 3

IMPORT CONTROL MYTH

Press Association)

Australia Lucky Withont Mr. Nash

(Per

WELLINGTON, May 3. "New Zealand has -gone further • along the road to totalitarian socialism than Australia, ' ' said the Leader of the Opposition (Mr Holland), when he ar rived from Sydney on the Monowai this morning. There were more controls and restrictions in the Dominion than in Australia, and the average Australian was iess conscious of his many Govermnents than the average New Zealander was oi his one, because the New Zealander could hardly move without running into sorne control or restriction. Controls always seemed to result in shortages. Anv visitor to Australia could not fa.il to be impressed by ,the abundance of goods in the shops, Mr Holland added. The choice was so wide that in many cases it was already a buyers ' market. The explanation was that tliere were no restrictions on iuiports from the sterl ing area, and traders stocked what the customers wanted, whereas in New Zealand it was a oase of what Mr Nash thought they should liave. "Australia is lucky that Mr Nash j lives in New Zealand," Mr Holland commented. Despite Australians' freedom to import, what they liked from (he sterliug area, Australia 's sterling funds Iiad steadily increased until today they totalled £-100, 000, 000, compared with less than £200,000,000 two years ago. ; ) ; ,i Myth Explodea Australia had also exploded the myth that Ihe lifting of import controls would mean ruin for the oountry 's nianufacturing iudustries. Not one of thc nianufacturers with whom he spoke wanted import controls reimposed on goods from the sterling area. In facl, Australia had buill up a solid import* trade, valued at £70,000,000 annually, in manufactured goods. Nylon stockings and sewing ditton were iu plentiful snpply in the (Jommonwealth. "If the Governhient of Australia attempted to apply the stranglehold oi import restrictions and pettifogging controls we have liere, it would be thrown off Sydney harbour bridge, ' ' Mr Holland added. "In New Zealand we put up with it only "because we have almost for-gotten what freedom is like." He could see no material difference between prices of imporled goods ni Australia and New Zealand, despite the fact that New Zealand had altered tlm exchange rate. Mr Holland was not impressed with publicity for New Zealand he saw in the Commonwealth. What news was jniblished ovor there more often than |;

not put the Dominion in an unfavourable light. No oue was doing a better ,job of publicity for the Dominion than the Kiwi Concert Party, which was playing to capacity houses in Sydney. Educational Purpose of Trip " I went to Australia to learn as muoh as I could aliout Ijow a country could or should be run, and also how it slnjuld not be run," said Mr Holland. "I went t his year because I thought it was on the cards that I might be too busv next year to spare the tirae," he added, with a smile. Mr Holland \vill Jeave Wellington to-, night for Christchurch, but will return liere, ne.xt week for a meeting in the Town Hall on the Wednesday, and a National I'artv I'arliamcutary caucns on the Fridav. Ile anticipates making a visit to Auckland in the near future.