THE IMPORT RESTRICTIONS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24418, 2 October 1940, Page 9

THE IMPORT RESTRICTIONS

TO THE EDITOR

Sir,—To a British people the opening rpmarks of Mr Nash’s Statement regarding import control for the ytear 1941 are incomprehensible. He states that “ the allocations are determined within the limit of the funds available, and cannot be increased. Importers would be well advised, therefore, to arrange their imports or the distribution thereof so that they will cover the full period, otherwise they might find themselves during the latter part without any goods to trade with.” Again he states. ‘‘Any goods ordered under such licences, i.e., third or fourth period which arrive after December 31, will be admitted only as a charge against the importer’s allocation for the fifth period.” As an instance of dictatorship. the above is a good sample. It ignores all present trading conditions, which make it impossible tc order with any surety as to when the goods will arrive. For instance, only to-day my firm received a cablegram intimating that goods ordered had.

when ready for shipment, been damaged, and could be remade for shipment only in December. Under the new system these goods, although, part of the fourth period licence, will, because they arrive in 1941, be de» ducted from the 1941 licences. How can business be carried on under such conditions? It is just sheer mockery for Messrs Nash and Co. to shout support- of democracy and freedom when at every turn the people of this Dominion are being subjected to a form of dictatorship which is the antithesis of democracy. I venture to say that the control of imports initiated by Mr Nash must have cost the people of this country probably millions of pounds, but the supporters of his party cannot see it because they like the Government, are so proud Of the fact that a Labour Government is in power for the first time in New Zealand’s history. Importers were restricted in their imports and delayed in the placing of their orders to such an extent that on account of the rise in prices the same quantity of goods cost from 50 to 75 per cent, more than they would have had no control existed. Britain wants to. and must, export, but Mr Nash’s socialistic policy is directly opposed to the interests of Britain, who is to-day fighting for her existence. —I am, etc.. True Bill. Dunedin, September 30.