TOWARDS THE "ABSOLUTE MINIMUM"

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 173, 24 July 1941, Page 6

TOWARDS THE "ABSOLUTE MINIMUM"

TN fixing the permissible limits of importation in 1942, the Customs Minister's object was "to cut down ... to an absolute minimum," and most people who have studied the new list will agree that Mr. Nash's performance has not fallen far short of his intention. Importation of a large number of articles was prohibited earlier; the prohibitions are to be continued next year, with some additions. Importation of many other articles is to be reduced to a level of 50 per cent lower than that allowed in 1940. There can be no disputing the necessity of the restrictions in general. When all ships that come to New Zealand from the United Kingdom have to run the gauntlet of submarines and bombing planes, it is necessary and right that their holds should contain only indispensable commodities, and this is being brought about by the double check of export restrictions at Home and import licensing in the Dominion. In the case of necessary commodities that the United Kingdom is no longer able or willing to supply there will be some transfer of orders to British Dominions, and for this the new schedule makes allowance. One notable feature of the schedule is the number of items—about 140—for which no quota is fixed, but for which applications will be considered individually. The objections to this method are obvious, but the greater flexibility it permits is perhaps sufficient to justify it. In certain circumstances which may yet arise NewZealand's imports will not be those which the Government is prepared to , admit, but those which it is possible to get from any source at all.