IMPORTS FROM BRITAIN

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24421, 5 October 1940, Page 9

IMPORTS FROM BRITAIN

CONFINED TO ESSENTIALS MINISTER REPLIES TO QUESTIONS (From Our Parliamentary Reporteri WELLINGTON, Oct. 4. "It is correct to say that it does no good to us or to Britain for us to buy goods we can do without at present,' said the Minister of Finance, Mr W. Nash, in concluding the war finance debate in the House to-day, when replying to questions asked concerning imports from Britain. The point had been made earlier that Britain must maintain her exports unless her war effort was to suffer. "The positive instruction with regard to import licences is that goods must be obtained from the United kingdom) if possible," he added. At the same time, il was recognised by the United Kingdom Government that no good would be done by importing materials and articles not required. Britain did not need to build up credit in the Empire countries, but in other countries where she was buying armaments. Certain manufacturers in Britain wanted to find markets overseas and were urging countries overseas to buy, he said. Some New Zealanders formerly importing non-essentials still wanted to import them. It was, however, clear that every penny New Zealand had from the sale of her produce in Britain less the amount required to meet commitments, was made available for import licences