LICENCES TO IMPORT

Press, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23132, 23 September 1940, Page 2 (Supplement)

LICENCES TO IMPORT

THE FOURTH PERIOD

EXTENSION SOUGHT

In the opinion of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce it is necessary that the Government should agree to an extension of the term of validity of fourth-period import licences, otherwise a number of importers will be seriously affected, and, it was contended by Mr M. G. C. McCaul, at a meeting of the chamber, that the attitude of the Government is seriously unfair to British industry under war conditions. The Comptroller of Customs, Mr E. D. Good, wrote in reply to the chamber's letter of August 28, when suggestions were made vhat validity of fourth-period licences should be extended until June 30, 1941, and that licensing periods should be increased from six to 12 months, with a slight overlap between periods. "In reply,” stated Mr Good, "I am directed to inform you that it is regretted that fourth-period licences cannot be extended beyond December 31 next. Any goods which come to hand during 1941 must be a charge against the importer’s allocation for that year, “With reference to the question of extending the period of licences from six to 12 months, this is a matter which will receive most careful consideration in connexion with the procedure to'be adopted in future.”

Mr McCaul said that at a time when Britain was being bombed and her industries attacked it was most untimely and most unkind that British manufacturers should be so penalised. If there was a principle at stake let it be applied to countries which were not suffering as Britain was to-day. "To apply it to Britain is more than wrong: it is wicked,” said Mr McCaul. Mr W. H. Kindle supported Mr McCaul, and said that the ruling given was going to bear very heavily on a number of importers who were unfortunate in having the issue of their licences delayed. In some cases fourth period licences had been issued a full three months after the period commenced and it was an obvious impossibility for a large quantity of goods so covered to arrive by December 31. Unless some relief was given the results would be very serious to a number of business people. Mr Kindle moved, and the chamber agreed, that the matter was so serious that it should be referred to the Associated Chambers with a request that they should consider what, action should be taken in the interests of the business community and of the British manufacturer.