IMPORT DELAYS

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 302, 22 December 1941, Page 3

IMPORT DELAYS

FROM NORTH AMERICA

GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE (0.C.) WELLINGTON, this day. The Minister of Supply, Mr. Sullivan, announced to-day that an arrangement had been instituted through the Secretary of Supply whereby New Zealand importers holding licenses for the importation of goods from the United States of America and Canada would be able to secure the assistance of the Government in overcoming delays and difficulties caused by the existing wartime controls in both countries. The United States control of exports at present extends over a wide range of commodities and it is possible that it will be extended to include all classes of goods. Export licenses are available to exporters in the United States in three forms, viz., general licenses, unlimited licenses and specific licenses. Referring to their effect on procurement by New Zealand importers, general licenses, which actually cover only a very limited range of commodities, present no difficulty to the United States shipper or exporter. Unlimited Licenses Unlimited licenses, covering a wider range, are available to certain approved purchasing organisations in the United States, whilst specific licenses are those necessary to secure release of all controlled items unless advantage can be taken of general or unlimited licenses. The securing of specific licenses, the normal avenue open to New Zealand importers, is necessarily an involved and slow method of obtaining export release, and with the object of overcoming this wherever possible the Government has concluded successful negotiations with the British Purchasing Commission, an approved foreign agency in the United States, whereby New Zealand importers will be able to secure the advantage of having their goods shipped under the more expeditious system of unlimited licenses and where these are not applicable under "endorsed specific licenses." "It will be appreciated that export release does not overcome the difficulties encountered by United States manufacturers in the fulfilment of many orders placed by New Zealand importers," said Mr. Sullivan. "I refer here to the system of priority ratings in the United States of America which in effect is a device of the Government in that country to ensure that all things needed for the national defence of the United States of America ' are produced promptly, on schedule and without delay."

The extent to which New Zealand importers can overcome the difficulties above mentioned is conditioned by the manner in which importers supply the Ministry with full particulars of their orders, including the ultimate use of the goods and their relation, if any, to the war effort in New Zealand.

Canadian Control The system of control imposed by the Canadian Government, although different as to detail, is similar in effect and extends over a wide range of- vital materials. In the case of Canada, the Government is willing to support importers encountering in .obtaining release of goods from that country. The .Ministry of Supply has therefore designed an" application form for the use of importers which, if fully completed and returned to the Secretary of Supply, will enable the Ministry to take supporting action through its organisation in North America. These forms are available

to importers upon application at the Secretariat of Supply, Wellington, Chambers of Commerce and Manufacturers' Associations, Collectors of Customs and district offices of the Department of Industries and Commerce. In rendering this service to importers the Minister desired to make it clear that the assistance the Ministry of Supply will he able to render in this matter will depend upon the extent to which the co-operation and ready assistance of importers was forthcoming. In this connection the authorities in the United States had already complained of the action of some importers in endeavouring to make direct contact with the object of securing export release. Importers could achieve little by these measures and it would be in their own interests if the procedure outlined above were complied with