LICENSING OF IMPORTS

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27307, 25 March 1954, Page 7

LICENSING OF IMPORTS

BOARD OF TRADE’S OPERATIONS

PRAISE BY RETAILERS’ FEDERATION (New Zealand Press Association) CHATEAU TONGARIRO, March 24. A resolution congratulating the Government on the establishment of the Board of Trade and expressing the hope that the board would continue was passed at the annual conference yesterday of the New Zealand Retailers’ Federation. The resolution was an outcome of a general discussion on import control and tariff inquiries. Members described as excellent the work done by the board in dealing with the many problems associated with import control. The secretary of the board (Mr R. F. Wilson), who was present in an advisory capacity, said the board since its inception had heard more than 2200 appeals and had conducted 36 tariff hearings. There also had been numerous hearings on other questions. The chairman of the federation’s import committee (Mr A. L. George, of Wellington) said in his annual report that the federation’s policy in general was to endorse the removal of import licensing, but not to oppose higher tariffs if the board deemed them necessary in order to afford adequate protection for sound local industries.

Many of the tariff items reviewed by the board during the last year concerned imports which, in the absence of licensing, would compete with goods of New Zealand manufacture. The board gave 13 decisions, only five of which involved a rise in tariff rates. In eight cases import licensing was removed, and in one controls were reimposed. The abolition of licensing in four of these cases—toilet preparations, washing machines, vacuum cleaners, and full-length lisle and Cashmere hosiery—was of special significance, and constituted further evidence of the implementation of the Government’s policy to resort to import duties rather than control to protect jlocal industry. “Long-distance Prospect” Complete abolition of import licensing must be regarded as a longdistance prospect, but the Board of Trade should be commended for the thorough way in which its hearings were conducted and for the success which had accompanied its deliberations to date, he said. The conference expressed concern at the delay in some cases by the Government in announcing its decision of findings by the board. It was decided to protest to the Government and to request that steps be‘taken to expedite the decisions where hearings had been completed.

Other decisions by the conference were that the Government be requested to hold a Board of Trade tariff hearing concerning fully-fashioned hosiery; that the Government provide machinery with which to correct/ individual anomalies for nylon and silk hosiery which could be supported by the necessary evidence by legitimate traders; that the Government favourably consider the removal of import controls from women’s leather gloves; and that, in view of the Government’s prerequisite of ample supply and keen competition being fulfilled, the federation press for removal of price control on all furniture and carpets.