NEW STATE PLAN?

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 212, 8 September 1941, Page 2

NEW STATE PLAN?

GOODS FROM AMERICA

IMPORTERS PERTURBED

Considerable apprehension is felt among Auckland importers following the report from Dunedin that in future all Dominion imports from the United States under the Lease or Lend legislation would be handled by the Ministry of Supply. In the absence of an official statement from the Government, it is difficult to know what the exact policy will be, but there are widely-held fears that importing from America by private firms will cease.

"The Lease or Lend Act contemplates only the supply of goods regarded as essential to the defence of the United States," stated Mr. Gainor Jackson, president of the Bureau of Importers, this morning, in commenting on the position.

Interpretation is Broad

"The interpretation of defence articles in the Act. however, is very broad, and practically any commodity or service could be brought within its scope. Commercial interests consider that there is a grave danger of New Zealand importing goods from U.S.A. under the Lease or Lend Act which are not directly required for defence purposes, whether it be for the defence of New Zealand or the defence of the United States because the two are somewhat interlocked. If the provisions of the Act are to be mad'i the occasion 'or the excuse for the setting up of a Government indent office to take over the functions of private enterprise in the matter of importing consumer goods from the United States, then it seems to be a function not contemplated in the Act and one likely to cause rancour and bitter prejudice among citizens of the United States."

Mr. Jackson pointed out that the elimination of the sellers' commission would cause much dissatisfaction among agents. It looked as though it was intended to set up another Government Department to further socialise the trade and commerce of the country. First, the importing agents would be affected and then the distributors.

Two Classes of Imports A prominent Wellington importer. Mr. M. G. C. McCaul. who visited Auckland over the week-end, expressed the view that the Government had not yet reached a decision. Imports from America, he maintained, would consist of two classes —those supplied under the Lease or Lend agreement and those outside it. Goods excluded by the Act, namely, those for purely civilian use, would have to be paid for. He felt that no New Zealand importers wanted to profit from the war but they did suugest that goods not covered by the Lease or Lend legislation were outside the legitimate sphere of State buying Departments and should be imported through the normal channels by import licenses. The creation of a big Government Department to usurp the functions of importers would inflict unnecessary and serious injury upon manv established businesses skilled in the importation of American manufactures.