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Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 31, 7 February 1939, Page 10

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£20,093 OF IMPORTS. POWER BOARD MATERIALS. FUTURE POLICY QUESTION. Advice that the Collector of Cu«tnma •it Auckland had lienn a uthorised t.n grant an import license for electric <.11 >Io and accessories valued nt '£20.0! C? was received from the Minister of Finance. the Hon. "VV. Nash, at a meeting o' the Nucklaiul F.lcctric Power Board yesterday afternoon. Amon? the material the hoard desired to import was Ji.lKiO \ olt. ealile. which is awaitshipment, in Kngland. ("Ira t ilicat ion win expressed bv the general manager, Mr. R. M. Hartley, at the result of the action of the board in allowing the purchasing o|Ji<-er, Mr. L. (i. Lovell. to go to Wellington for the purpose of taking up the matter of it* requirements with the Minister. The hoard had been successful in having all it* requisitions granted, and the licenses were now in Auckland, he said. Mr. Lovell, in a separate report, said that the inference from the remarks of the Minister at his conferences with importers in Wellington wan that goods that could he manufactured in New Zealand would enjoy a monopoly. If that, course brought about the desired effect of easing the position with regard to London funds, well and good, but. if due to the importation of Unnecessary raw material* those funds did not increase materially, then a further tightening of imports would be made and probably would affect the policy of the board. Gravity of Situation. No one should minimise the gravity of the situation or the Government's policy to overcome it, because the Government, having considered all angles of it, wan determined to carry out its scheme to fruition. That certain of the 'board's work must he deferred, lie was sure, and only if the monetary position warranted it would the board lie allowed licenses even to import materials for urgent maintenance work. In future no job of any size should be commenced without first, a schedule of the materials required being compiled, and. if it he necessary to import any goods, the license should be obtained before the job was started. Thf» reports -were received, and it was decided to thank the Minister for granting permission to import required materials.