More Details Wanted To Support Importers’ Claims

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28536, 15 March 1958, Page 14

More Details Wanted To Support Importers’ Claims

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, March 14. Details of the information required by the Comptroller of Customs from importing businesses affected to the point oi extinction by the import controls, and which had applied for special licences were announced today by the Minister of Customs (Mr Boord). Some applications already received were not supported by enough information to enable the cases to' be judged fairly, he said Importers lodging applications for special licences were now asked to supply the following details: (A) Certified copies of trading accounts, profit and loss account and balance sheet for the last three year’s trading In the case of newly-estab-lished importers, certified copies of such accounts from commencing date of the business. (B) Details : of actual imports, according to tariff items, for 1955. 1956 and 1957. (C) Details of licences already issued, including any “excess” licences (which should he identified as such). (D) Full details of any abnormal circumstances which are claimed to have affected the level of 1956 imports so as to make additional special licences a necessity to keep the business going.

“In those cases, where applications have already been lodged without that information, the importers should let the comptroller have these details as soon as possible,’’ said Mr Boord. “The information asked for is no more than is necessary to ensure that each application receives full consideration and that, as far as the state of our overseas funds will permit, the licences granted meet the needs of the importer to a degree sufficient to assist him to tide over the present emergency.”

Applications for special import licences by importers whose businesses may have to close because of the import restrictions must be lodged with the Christchurch Customs office by March 21. The closing date in Wellington. at the Customs Deparment, js March 24. This date is regarded by Customs officers in Christchurch as “critical.” Any importer whose application is not lodged by this time may miss the chance of obtainly a licence. “DISRUPTION OF BUSINESS ” • Sir J. Allum’s Letter To Mr Boord /New Zeaiana Press Association) AUCKLAND, March 14. Sir John Allum has written to the Minister of Customs (Mr Boord) amplifying his recent statement about import controls. The letter is in reply to a request by Mr Boord for “specific cases” of complaint. Sir John Allum quoted cases, which, he said, showed that in some instances licences to the amount applied for were not being granted where they should have been “My colleagues and I have been in touch with officers of your deoartment in Auckland, and we know the extraordinarily long hours they have worked since the beginning of this year.” says S’r John Allum in his letter. “Indeed, it may fairly be said that the greatest problem they face today is fatigue. “The fact remains, however, that there has been a serious disruntion of business in the last two and a half months, and the end is not in sight. This is bound to have serious repercussions later on.”