DELAYS CAUSED TO IMPORTERS

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25161, 17 April 1947, Page 8

DELAYS CAUSED TO IMPORTERS

ABOLITION OF LICENSING SYSTEM URGED

Criticism of delays in the passing ot entries through the Customs Department and of the clogging of importing procedure with unnecessary forms and returns has been expressed by the Bureau of Importers, which urges the abolition of the import licensing system.

The bureau states that one member waited six days for the return of an invoice from the Auckland office of the department, and that this prevented him applying to the Price Tribunal for approved prices for the lines imported. “The procedure seems to be that the entry Is passed through the Cu.toms office and then taken to the examining officers on the wharf.” states the bureau. “These examining officers are literally inundated with work, having in their possession entries dating back .10 days to a fortnight. The invoices and entries are retained by them for the same period before being returned to the importer. Consequently this causes congestion of cargo on the wharves, and the goods awaiting clearance from the Customs have to bp taken to the cargo control sheds, thereby involving additional charges, such as harbour board storage, handling charges, and additional cartage to and from the wharf, to say nothing of the delay and loss involved through urgently required goods not being available for sale.

“The whole importing procedure is being clogged up because importers have to fill in a great number of unnecessary forms and returns supplying details of the c.i.f. value against each of all goods imported under their particular tariff headings and sub-headings. Every additional sub-heading under a tariff item further complicates the position, involving separate c.i.f.e. calculations being made in respect of an ever-increasing range of goods. This causes a great deal of unnecessary work in the imnorterl offics as well as in the Customs Denartment because of the writing off of these amounts from, the licences granted under the increasing number of sub-tariff headings. “The position Is so acute and involves such a huge waste of manpower whew’ essential industry is crying out for labour,“ the public for goods, and the Government for increased production, that the time has come for a review of the whole nosition and the' complete abolishment of the imnort licensing system. Th's is only one of the many ways by which this country can return to increased production, lower costs, and an improvement in the standard of living.”