IMPORT REGULATIONS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 27 January 1939, Page 7

IMPORT REGULATIONS

(Continued from Page 5.) results of the regulations to date were revealed in the numerous cases of hardship that were cited by various speakers and the conference expressed grave concern at the apparently inevitable further dislocation of business and consequent hardship to employers and employees. “The following resolution was carried: — “That this national conference of importers condemns as impracticable, unnecessary and unjust the Import Control Regulations, 1938. "Arising out of the general discussion on the regulations and their probable effect on the financial position of the country as disclosed by the Minister, a further resolution was carried in the following terms: — That the Minister of Finance be urged to make a public statement as to the extent to which the Government intends to cut down public expenditure in New Zealand as well as the value of imports by the Government, with a view to relieving the present serious financial difficulty. ALTERNATIVE SUGGESTED. “Addressing itself to the subject of a possible alternative to the existing regulations, the conference, after consideration of various proposals, approved an alternative procedure submitted by the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce in terms of the following resolution: —

The conference is of opinion that the conditions existing as a result of the import regulations gazetted on December 5, 1938, are so disastrous to business in New Zealand that this conference recommends to the Government the following modification of the import regulations: Having regard to the following objectives, namely, conservation of sterling, protection of local manufactured lines, and alterations in the direction of trade, that the Government:— (a) Fix the amount of sterling each importer can use for 12 months based on say, one, two, or three years’ average imports, less whatever percentage the Government considers necessary to conserve sterling funds; (b) Protect articles of local manufacture by listing such goods as are to be prohibited entry or restricted by means of permit. (c) Vary the direction of trade by listing items subjected to restriction from certain countries: (d) Set up an import tribunal consisting of merj skilled in trade and commerce, associated with Government officials, to hear and decide appeals. COMMITTEE ELECTED. “Finally, the conference elected a special committee under the aegis of the Associated Chambers of Commerce, the duties of committee to be: (1) To make a reasoned reply to the Minister’s opening ‘ address; (2) to tabulate and express the considered views of the conference on the replies given by Mr Nash to the questions addressed to him by the conference, and (3) to make clear to the consuming public the objections of the conference to the present regulations and to explain fully the merits and advantages of the alternative constructive proposal recomended by the conference.