NOT WANTED HERE

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2711, 4 March 1916, Page 8

NOT WANTED HERE

GOODS OF ENEMY BRAND

CABINET'S POLICY 1

REQUEST FOR A STATEMENT

The Government of New Zealand will be Waited on shortly by certain trade and industrial bodies, who will ask for a statement of policy as.to the attitude tho Government will adopt after tlie war toward euomy goods. Those present at a social function held at the conclusion of tho recGiit Wellington ExLibition passed tho following resolution: "That this nieeting of exhibitors and executive resolves itself into a, committee to meet at a later dato to consider the advisability of ascertaining the policy of the Government as to tile future commerce of the Dominion, and to recommend to the Associate! New Zealand Chambers of Commerce the desirability of encouraging exhibitions of a similar nature to that just held, \nd, further, the need for chambers of commerce and industrial associations to units in arranging lists of goods of local manufacture which can become available to the public." In consequence of this resolution, about twenty business men met at Winder's Buildings yesterday to consider the following motions:— "The meeting will follow up the success attending the exhibition by "(1) Agreeing to form itself (if advisable) into a deputation for the purpose of waiting on the Erime Minister and the members of his Cabinet in an endeavour to .ascertain the policy of the. Government as to the future commerce of the Dominion. "(2) To prepare recommendations; (a) To be submitted to the Association of New Zealand Chambers of Commerce and Industrial Associations as to the desirability of its encouraging exhibitions of a. similar nature to that just held; (b) to be submitted to chambers of commerce and industrial associations throughout the Dominion-.urging them to unite in arranging lists of goods of local manufacture which can become available to the public." Mr. A. Petherick said that the recent exhibition left off at a stage whore it had interested members of the Government; but no definite statement had been made as to what the policy of the Government was going to be. He thought they should wait as a deputation to the Government and a6k for a definite promise on the subject. The Government nmht say the deputation should wait till after the war, but Mr. Petherick thought the Government should make an announcement now. In other countries this was being done, and New Zealand should not be behindhand. Mr. C. M. Luke said that he thought that the exhibition would bear good fruit, and that Wellington's lead, would be emulated elsewhere. Mr. T. Ballinger said that there was talk, of a fifty per cent, tariff against German goods; but that tariff would not keep German goods out of Now Zealand. What was required was total prohibition. There were, said Mr. Alderson, about 11,000 Germans at large here, and many of them were business men. Theso.meu, he urged upon the nieeting, would keep open 1 their businesses as avenues for the sale of German goods when the chance arose. Mr. G. Winder wished to know if it was intended to ask the Government if its policy was one of free trade or extreme protection. T:le did not believe in hampering the Government with such quesnow. It would be hotter to help them jvith recruiting. Mr. Ballinger: Tf we are not 2°inc: to approach the Government, how are thev to know what wo want? The chairman: Our action would strengthen the hand of the Government. The resolutions were carried. _ and Messrs. G. M. Luke and T. Ballinger were appointed to be the sneakers. Chambers of Commerce and Industrial Associations will bo asked to join in the deputation. The deputation will bring before the Government the question of the desirability of .issuing a handbook stating what goods are purely British; wh-it are enemy-made; and what are made on British soil, but with enemy capital.