STRONG PROTEST

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24418, 2 October 1940, Page 5

STRONG PROTEST

ADDITIONAL RESTRICTIONS IMPORTS FROM BRITAIN APPEAL FOR AID IGNORED The Council of the United Kingdom Manufacturers and New Zealand representatives’ Association has issued the following statement in regard to the restrictions on imports from me United Kingdom:Out of 450 items listed m the New Zealand Customs Tariff a great number are completely prohibited from being imported from the United Kingdom. as the public will already have realised when endeavouring to make a purchase. This is evidenced by the recent schedules issued for licences to import in 1941. We would like to emphasise that every mention of 100 per cent, in the schedules means 100 per cent, prohibited from being imported. Many of the remaining items are banned 25 per cent., 50 per cent.. and 75 per cent.

How long could New Zealand last economically if the United Kingdom placed similar restrictions on the same proportion of New Zealand exports?

The Chancellor of the Exchequer said recently, in stating the United Kingdom Government’s intention to restrict home trade: “ By this action we shall enable United Kingdom manufacturers to maintain and. where possible, extend the export trade which must be regarded as a vital part of our war effort.” Every day appeals are being made by British manufacturers to the dominions to “ buy more United Kingdom goods.” We have full evidence of this.

Continental markets are closed to British trade and the manufacturers at Home are looking, and we hope not in vain as far as New Zealand is concerned. to the dominions to provide greater export markets, without which Great Britain cannot carry on. As evidence of the necessity for the United Kingdom export trade we have the fact that the Horae market is being kept short in order to provide exports It is regrettable that the New Zealand import restrictions for the year 1941 are even more stringent than they were when first introduced On eight principal United Kingdom items the restrictions have been somewhat relaxed, but there are 11 additional items where the prohibition has been increased—this after nearly two years of import restrictions.

In other words, with the United Kingdom motto “Export or expire” ringing in our ears, a net three additional items are re-

stricted more heavily. We admit that there are some limited classes of goods which the United Kingdom cannot export at present because of the necessities of war, but the great majority of those goods which are 100 per cent, banned can be supplied. and others partly banned can be supplied in much greater quantities than are now allowed to be imported. The people of New Zealand demand these goods, but New Zealand import restrictions have prevented their importation.

The recent ruling that in cases in which goods do not arrive here by December 31 the result will be the cancellation of the fourth period licence, and the deduction of the amount from the fifth period licence is a serious matter for United Kingdom manufacturers and New Zealand traders. In other words, despite difficulties caused by air raids, black-outs transport dislocation, etc.. United Kingdom manufacturers working under unbelievable conditions have to get their goods here by December 31 or lose this amount of export business Do the manufacturers in New Zealand realise they are liable to lose, as a result of this ruling, six months’ supply of raw materials, as this ruling applies equally to raw materials as to United Kingdom manufactured articles?

The council of this association expresses its regret that the operation of the New Zealand import restrictions, bv placing these prohibitions on many classes of goods which the United Kingdom is able to supply, prevents New Zealand from responding to the extent possible to the urgent demands of United Kingdom manufacturers for more exports. Britain can deliver the goods--it is up to New Zealand to lake them.