LOST IMPORTS

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 173, 24 July 1941, Page 8

LOST IMPORTS

UCENSING COTS

TRADE AT LOW EBB

CHANGES IN THREE YEARS

The executive of the Bureau of Importers met this morning to consider the sixth period import licensing schedule issued by the Minister of Customs yesterday. Later it issued a statement in which it said: "Few people realise the drastic effect that the new import schedule will have an many imported commodities previously available in New Zealand. The basis has been changed from the value of imports actually imported in 1938 to the value of licenses issued for the importation of goods during 1940. It should be understood by the public that the licenses as issued for 1940 represented a very serious cut on the goods imported in 1938.

"Licenses issued for importations during 1940 showed a reduction in value in some instances of 50 per cent from the United Kingdom, 75 p.c. from other British, and 100 p.c. from foreign countries. This reduced the value of importations during 1940 in these instances to one quarter of the 1938 total.

"Under the sixth period schedule, importations for 1942 are to be reduced by 50 per cent of the licenses issued for importation during 1940. Importations, therefore, for 1942 may be one quarter of the 1938 value from the United Kingdom, one eighth from other British countries, and foreign nil.

"In short, the value of importations for 1942 from all sources, in these instances, will amount to £37 10/, as against £300 imported during 1938. When the increased cost arising from war conditions is taken into consideration, the actual volume of merchandise which it will be possible to import during 1942, will snow a still greater reduction than the values given above would indicate. Half Of Tariff Prohibited "This statement of values, which it will be possible to import during 1942, as compared with 1938. is given merely as an example, but this would apply generally over a wide range of commodities of which importation is still permitted. There is a wide range of articles representing approximately half of the tariff items, the importation of which from all countries is still prohibited. This list remains substantially the same as for 1941."

Considerable concern was expressed by the executive of the bureau at the increasing number of commodities made subject to Government control. This, it was stated, indicates a further encroachment by the Government in the fields of private enterprise. Despite the war, the Government was continuing its peace-time policy of socialisation of all industry and commerce.

The bureau expressed grave concern at this further wide extension of bureaucratic control, which now extended into every field of importation. One large importer informed the bureau this morning that every single line his company now imported was subject to Government control, which lent itself to political favouritism, as no fixed allocation for importation of control items was made. It was regretted that a more general application of the principle of transfers of licenses from the United Kingdom to other British countries had not been provided for having regard to the difficulties of obtaining supplies from Great Britain. More Flexibility Needed The extension of the fifth licensing period to June 30. 1942. was appreciated by importers and would be approved by overseas manufacturers, it was stated, particularly in view of the wide cancellation of orders for fourth period rendered necessary by the cancellation of all outstanding fourth period licenses at December 30 last.

While importers were anxious in every way possible to assist in any matter calculated to advance the country's war effort they had expected that more fiexibilitv would nave been provided for in 'the new import schedule. The wide increase SLIiJF num P er . of controlled items would greatly increase the amount rw ork & r both im Po«ers and the Customs Department at a time when manpower should be economised for wai purposes.

thi nT a Zealands overseas funds at £34 ono nnn 1 Um? amo «nted to some £fisnnnnn ■ ag"nst New Zealand's f.r,« i in Dece mber. 1938. when import control was introduced While outwardly the position of thlsterlinl balances would thus appear to havl