MR. NASH ANGRY

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 21, 26 January 1939, Page 12

MR. NASH ANGRY

SHARP REBUKE?

TO IMPORTERS. COURTESY DENIED ? ATTACK ON GOVERNMENT. DICTAPHONE RECORDS. (By Tolejfrniph.—Press Asworla H««n.) WELLINGTON, this day. Stror.g criticism of the Government's exchange control policy by Mr. M. S. Myers, of Dunedin. president of the Associated Chambers of Commerce, provoked a. sharp robukr from the Minister of ( iMlonis, the Hon. VV. Nash, when 'lie Minister returned to the importer*' (■(inference shortly before noon to-day to answer thirty-three written questions. Mr. Nash suid lie wondered when arrange ment s had la-en made, one with the other. to do cer tain things, that. he should lie subjected to an attack oil the Government of which lie was n incmlier. lie wondered whether it was fair ami whether, if it was in the mind of the conference, he should not have been told of It. He dirt not mind the attack. (( rics of "(Hi! ') lint he thought any person 111 affected liv it Government's policy should. within the political organisation, have the right to say what he thought, of the <Government's policy. That was right, but it was not right for him to nttend a conference, especially to answer questions at his own request, and then, before answering the questions. In- subjected to such an attack on the <iovernnient. Customs Officers Barred. Mr. Nash said lie also regretted the apparent majority decision of the conference not to have two officers of the Customs Department present at the dis cussioiiM. Moreover, he was somewhat concerned that dictaphone records were being taken of his speech. He had been told lie spoke too fast for shorthand records. Tile usual procedure, he said, was for a Minister to do certain things ami then, when tho persons affected had made out their <;ase, they went to the Government. He had gone out of his way to let tho conference know the procedure, and that same courtesy was due to the Government. Ha did not think he had had it that morning. It inlglit be all to the good to have complete record of all that was said, but he was sorry that such things had been said and it might have been better for them to have been said at another Wme, Question of Appeals. Mr. Nash said then* had been no unnecessary delay in dealing with Appeals. It woukl expedite the procedure '' lodged in duplicate with tho Collector of Customs, who issued the license. He did not intend to »et up any tribunal in connection with time *ot ■PP®* l * in the mean- '» "P'ylng to the question whether the Government would allow the importation of gooda ordered prior to December 5 without deduction from the 2ard!h! J*? 1 } that if ""due hardship and injustice were likely to follow particular eases would be taken Into account. The Government would allow th» transfer of any license from • foreign country to an Umpire country, from on* foreign country to another foreign country, from an Empire country to an Empire country, or from an Empire country to the United Kingdom, 'the Government was satisfte4t that an endeavour was not being made to circumvent the main objectives of the import regulations. Favourable consideration would generally be givpn to applications to auirregute small permits to meet the objection that the system would result in ii large number of permits that are too small for importers to make use of them. Provided that samples were not lironght in for the purpose of getting Government would facilitate the arrival of bona Ade ■staples. / Capital Werhs Wanted. Special licenses might be applied for in respect of special contracts for approve* capital works and generally would be facilitated, as the Government wished to sea capital works expand, particularly in the manufacturing in(lufltric*. ® It was the intention of the Government, he said, to permit, importations of raw materials for conversion into m^ I® o ** the maximum extent poeeible. Mr. Myers remarked that what was raw material for one industry was often Anished material for another industry. The Minister agreed, mentioning serge r *l« ,r ®d for the clothing industry. Th* Government, he continued, would always take into account what it was endeavouring to do with the manufacturing indnstriee of New Zealand. In the event of damage or non-de-livery of goods ordered under license, an increase in the license would gener- , « 1 y be agreed to. In this conn£tion„ Mr. Nash mentioned goods destroyed l»y flro on the Rimutaka,' and said he .. * rr 2 n| s l j c<,n " es to b® issued in 1 stomTrn" , knew no >n which L rP,,,Hed Ilcen "« lor to ths * ood falth < «««* prior but he Talm i" ® omin ff »'to force, ported. UM lo ° k lnt ° —

No "Market for Licenaei." tranVf.r 00 0V n T nt WOn, ' , not to rranner of licenses, otherwise ♦ h "«»miVs lint waitt tLS "V""" I'™1 '™ "».v did j want. Though it was alwavs tli* * ®. ov « r "n»ent to secure an hetw#w » importations and exporta there was no method of ensuring such a balance, though they could tafce step* to reduce the margin. In cases when a license for all ports 7? ffanted, said the Minister, pro vision would Ik> made to grant the holder of the license landing permits at all ports other than that of his own office. The Government would be prepared to give special consideration to importers who were able to arrange for « supply of goods without drawing upon overseas funds held under the Govihumeiit control scheme, provided that such transactions did not conflict with local industries, Obviously licenses would be issued for spare parts, without whieh capital equipment could not function, and containers, bottle*, etc., which could not be manufactured in New Zealand would lie regarded as raw material.

Objective* Stated. Replying to questions, the Minister said the duration of the present system d>'|K>nde<l on how soon its objectives could be attained. They were: — (1) ('onsen at ion of sterling fund* to ensure the payment of debt services and other coinmitmeiiti overseas. (2) The purchase of sufficient raw materials to enable New Zealand industries, primary and secondary, to provide employment for all New Zea landers. (3) The importation of other commodities that could not bp economically produced in New Zea In ml ii lid were essential to the maintenance of the standard of living and t lie welfare of the people, objectives ine\ itably linked up with the expansion ot' manufacture in New Zealand. The Government would continue to protect the trade of those manufacturers who had extended or built new plants ii ml were selling goods at reasonably economic prices. Mr. Nasi, was asked whetiher the Government would make public the liasis of allocation* for the granting of import licenses and publUili a schedule »f prohibited imi«irts from Britain, Empire countries, "nxwt favoured nation" coulitrie« and foreign countries, and a similar liwt of partial prohibitions. He replied that in the meantime it waa not practicable to give general information, which was, however, furnished in some other countries where a similar procedure was operating. Importers would know from their licenses the extent to which the goods in which they were interested were affected. At present the Government was making sure of the supply of raw materials and other essential Imports, and restricting other classes of goodr* considered capable of being made hically. Co-ordination Nietiury. Imports of goods for manufacture must be co-ordinated with the requirements of the industries concerned. At some time it might be possible to publish a list of commodities that would 1 not be allowed to be imported. 1 Asked if he could say the total value ' by which he expected to reduce importations in the current year, Mr. Null ' replied in the negative. However, a » maximum saving of sterling fund* would 1 I* aimed at for debt services and essen- • tiul requirements. The issue of licenses had proceeded ' considerably during the past month and * would be continued, and every importer ' would know bow he would ho affected, i By now anyone affected during the lint ) half of the year should have had a ► license. (Cries of "No.") Mr. Nash i said be would get the Customs Depart - I ment to And out why. Another question was whether, if the | regulations were to extend over twelve months, the Government would consider issuing licenses for a period of twelve 1 months. Instead of the present period of ' six months. t Mr. Nash said that was not wholly possible during the present year, but if the system continued during IMO consideration would be given to the granting of licenses on an annual basis during that year. The Government was now giving consideration to the question of the Ims is on which licenses would be issued during the second half of the current year, with a view especially to facilitating seasonal business. "Special Cases on Their Merits." Mr. Nash was asked if, where a firm considered it was penalised by the strict application of the 1938 basis of allocations, the Government would agree, on appeal being made, that the average of the Arm's figures for the two preceding years should be allowed as the basis. He replied that in general there would be no departure from the 1938 basis, but special cases would be considered on their merits. Similarly, applications for licenses for new lines and new agencies would be considered on their merits. However, the Government would not agree to the transfer of a license for goods under one tariff item to goods under another. The Government would not be anxious to increase the number of importers, but where it considered it justiAed an ' endeavour would be made to And some formula to meet the position. Asked whether the unused balance of a permit for one period could be carried forward to the succeeding period without deduction from the succeeding period's quota, Mr. Nash said the answer in general was "No," unless there were exceptional circumstances such as shipping difficulties.