BRITISH RESENTMENT

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20077, 25 October 1939, Page 5

BRITISH RESENTMENT

RESTRICTION OF IMPORTS NEW ZEALAND’S POLICY INSECURITY OF CREDIT New Zealand’s import restriction policy has occasioned a good deal of resentment in manufacturing'circles in Britain, according to Mr. E. A. Westerman, a prominent business man of Hastings, who has recently returned from a trip abroad.

Comparatively speaking, the Dominion’s orders were only small, but they were genuinely appreciated by British traders, said Mr. Westerman. and the reaction of those affected by tlie move could be summed up in the question frequently put to him during business conversations: "What would you people think if we decided to cut out your produce?"

The number of people who had been thrown out of work as the result of the falling-oil of New Zealand's trade was another aspect mentioned bv Mr. Westerman. Representatives of New Zealand firms, and buyers and agents who had built up good trading connections between the Dominion and the Old Country, naturally felt strongly on the subject., he said.

The generally unstable condition of New Zoaland’3 linar ces was brought home to him by the great difficulty he experienced on a number of occasions in making satisfactory business arrangements because of the lack of sterling funds and the insecurity of the Dominion’s credit, said Mr. Westerman. Business people were considerably mpset oy this state of affairs and were puzzled that New Zealanders should have allowed their country to get into such n condition.