LICENCES TO IMPORT

Press, Volume LXXX, Issue 24370, 23 September 1944, Page 3

LICENCES TO IMPORT

SYSTEM OF GRANTING

EXPLAINED

(From bur Parliamentary Reporter) WELLINGTON, September 22. ' An explanation of the system of granting import licences was given by the Hon. W. Nagh, as Minister of Customs, in' the House of Representatives to-day. He said no one received preference, and the activities of aliens would not be permitted to interfere with the rehabilitation of returned men. He said he recognised that they had to find a way for the new importer to come into the scheme when Mr J. T. Watts (Opposition, Riccarton) suggested that licensing might create monopolies-. Speaking to the Customs Department vote of £161,063, Mr Watts said there appeared to be a considerable amount of difficulty in the minds ot the business community concerning import licences, and the system under which they were granted. Formerly they were granted by the Customs Department, but more recently there had arisen a system whereby the Ministry of Supply had to sponsor an application for an import licence. Mr Watts asked for a ministerial assurance that the allocation of licences was reviewed each year, to take cognisance of the needs and growths of different firms. Mr R. M. Algie (Opposition, Remuera) said there was a good deal of alarm in the country as to the extent to which aliens were coming into the Dominfon. He asked what was the actual extent of alien immigration, and what protection was being afforded men now serving overseas against a possible influx of aliens. A Difficulty Mentioned

Mr Nash said that a difficulty about a new man getting a licence to impwt was that importations of cloth, for instance. had already been cut about 50 per cent, because supplies were not available, and if a new man got a licence he would be getting it at the expense of old traders who had already suffered a severe cut. He was satisfied that they had got to find a way to let a new man in, and where there was a case for consideration it would be considered. At first the Customs Department had controlled licensing, but when certain articles began to be manufactured in New Zealand, the Ministry of Supply had to come into the question of what was imported, but not who should import it. Licensing was exclusively a matter for the Customs Department. The Ministry of Supply l only sponsored importations. Mr Nash said all alien immigrants were controlled by the Customs Department, and the procedure was excellent. and no one was likely to question it except some aliens who were refused admission. Apart from the Polish children there had been practically no aliens allowed in since the outbreak of the war. , While he agreed it was a good thing for New Zealand to assimilate some people from other countries, and while there were some excellent types offering, they could not be allowed in to interfere with the rehabilitation of our own men. He did not think anyone had received preferences as far as importing was concerned, and if there was any proof of aliens receiving such preferences he would get on to the matter as soon as it was reported to him.