IMPORTS FROM BRITAIN.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVIII, Issue 117, 17 May 1917, Page 2

IMPORTS FROM BRITAIN.

PRIORITY PERMITS. SOME STRINGENT CONDITIONS. DOMINION'S SUPPLIES AFFECTED. AN IMPORTANT MINISTERIAL STATEMENT. The Hon. Arthur Myers, Minister in of Munitions and Supplies, when interviewed this morning on the question of priority permits, stated he had received information by the last English mail, which led him to be apprehensive of difficulties ahead in regard to obtaining permits authorising the manufacture and shipment of certain supplies from the United Kingdom. Recently the High Commissioner had reluctantly reported that the Ministry of Munitions iiad definitely refused to grant permits to allow the manufacture of several important New Zealand orders. This news is a matter for regret from a New Zealand point of view, but the position must, nevertheless, be faced in the light of existing war conditions, and the consequent enormous demands made by the War Office and the Admiralty on British manufacturers.

NEW ZEALAND ORDERS. " It is -well known now by the business community, manufacturers and Government Departments throughout the Dominion," said Mr. Myers, " that the Government, at the request of the Ministry of Munitions in the United Kingdom, recently authorised mc as Minisister in Charge of Munitions and Supplies, to act as a local authority in New Zealand, for the purpose of giving certificates en New Zealand orders from the Dominion point of view. Since the inception of this organisation many orders have been so certified to, and the High Commissioner has been requested to facilitate matters as

far as possible. I am pleased to be able to state that in a number of cases the efforts of my Department and that of the High Commissioner in London have been productive of very satisfactory results. I regret, however, to announce the grave possibility of these beneficial activities being considerably restricted by the conditions which, from reports received, undoubtedly now prevail in regard to certain lines. The position generally, may be indicated by the fact that the Ministry of Munitions has taken a firm stand in regard to stocks of all commodities containing metals which are usually exported from the United Kingdom to New Zealand, and which are now -wanted there for munitions and other national purposes. The attitude of the Ministry amounts to this, they refuse to gTant a permit to manufacture in favour of "A" whilst his neighbour "B." in New Zealand holds stocks of the lines "A" desires to secure. This matter is leading mc to obtain a general idea of stocks which are held in the Dominion in some of the important lines to which my attention has been specially directed. I trust the officials deputed to attend to the collection of the desired information will be fully assisted by the commercial community so as to enable these particulars to be promptly and accurately compiled."

LIMITED MATERIAL AVAILABLE. '"Then again," said Mr. Myers, "the ' Ministry of .Munitions has given us to j understand definitely that under no consideration can plant for the extension of businesses or ordinary commercial enterprises be favourably considered. The aim of the Ministry apparently is to provide from tbe limited quantity of some materials available sufficient to maintain continuity of operations in essential industries; that is, apart altogether from material for munitions. Precedence is, of course, taken by work directly necessary for the prosecution of the war, and only in this connection a r e developments permitted. I am informed that the equipment of new works and extensions of existing works will receive scanty sympathy from the Ministry, and several notable instances of this ruling have been brought before my notice. SOME IMPORTANT ITEMS. *From the foregoing I trust it will be appreciated that I have a duty to discharge in discouraging certain types of applications until such time as conditions are more favourable. It would probably be detrimental to the best interests of New Zealand if business men wc-c permitted to embark on commercial enterprises without 'having due regard to the possibility of having their activities arrested or restricted owing to the conditions which obtain m the United

Kingdom in regard to securing supplies. I will, therefore, shortly indicate the approximate position in connection with several important lines: — (1) No supplies *or constructional work are likely to oe manufactured except from shell discard steel. This also applies to steel hoops for wool dumping and for tallow casks. However, fn this connection I have requested the High Commissioner to have tests made in England to prove, as far as is possible, the salty of such boop3 for wool dumping.

(2) Tinplates, Blackplates, and Terneplates. —None of these STipplies are being allowed for export unless for specific purposes connected with war interests. No tinplate is likely to be allowed for the packing of tobacco and cigarettes even for the Army.

(3) There is little likelihood of galvanised or black corrugated or pbiin sheeting being made available for export. (4) The position with regard to steel •wire is not easy. In the case of hard wire, there is more scarcity than in the case of soft wire. Transport and industrial users of wire ropes are therefore requested *>y tbe Ministry to endeavour to splice the existing ropes, and not to count upon having any in stock as standby.

i's) Steel Plates.—These are practically unobtainable for industrial pur- I poses, and every make-shift must, there- ] fore be resorted to in the case of tanks and boilers requiring plates. I (6) The demand for steel shafting l makes it practically impossible for the Ministry to permit steel shafting to be exported for so»e time to come. (7) Copper, brass, and other copper alloys are only obtainable for work of essential war importance, and then only when no other material can be substituted. In the United Kingdom at present iron, lead, and zinc are being used where previously copper and brass were employed. Applicants for copper and brass are. therefore, being requested by the Ministry to prove that no other material can be substituted; and I must, therefore, call upon New Zealand in- ] dentors to prove likewise before I can [send on their orders.

(8) Mines.—As regards supplies for mines, it may be mentioned that the policy adopted in England is to refuse steel for headgear, it being considered that timber can be used instead. New

screens and washeries are not given any priority certificates at present, unless a very strong case can be uiaJe out for their "supply. Steel is refused for mine tubes, the "use of wooden bodies with wrought-iron bottoms being advised. Tub axles must be taken in shell discard steel. No new plant or machinery, or plant or machinery for opening of new mines or seams, is being allowed. Demands for cyanide for gold mines must be reduced to a minimum. (0) Textiles.—No new plant for the production of textiles is likely to be permitted at least for some considerable time to come. (10) fcUectrical Machines.—No plant is available for ordinary industrial purposes. Large and important schemes of electrification, both in the United Kingdom and in the Dominions have been postponed until after the w;ir. Telephone apparatus and material 13 also scarce, and telephone extensions for the Central Post Office in the Cuited Kingdom and ordinary commercial purposes have bad to be postpone*.' meantime. (11) Agricultural Implements.—The mar.tfaeture of agriculVi-ai implements for export is, for the present, being discouraged. Agricultural tools are generally allowed in shell discard steel. Sugar and rubber tools are also being ma.i.> in the same quality steel. (1?) Leather.—The manufacture of icuibc! and balata for other than urgent war work is practically forbidden. (13.) Rivets, lielts, Etc—The holding of stocks of rivets, bo'Vi, nuts, screws, small tools, etc., is be-.n.™ discouraged, aud no permits are grained for r.'pJacen cr>ts for stock purpo-.es. (!4) P>rass Screws. —Permits for the manufacture of brass screws, except for gun or ammunition purposes are being refused.