PROCESSING OF COLOUR FILM Decision About Reimports

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28541, 21 March 1958, Page 10

PROCESSING OF COLOUR FILM Decision About Reimports

(From Our Own Reporter) WELLINGTON, March 20.

Processed colour films now being held in Australia until the licensing tangle is sorted out are to be brought into New Zealand on special no-remittance licences. This was said tonight by a spokesman of the Customs Department when he was asked what was being done to minimise inconveniences being suffered by colour photographers because of involved import licensing procedures. The spokesman said that the granting of special no-remittance licences was an emergency measure. The question of remittance certificates for future supplies of processed films would be thrashed out with the persons concerned. “The Customs Department does not wish to penalise innocent third parties who have bought the films in good faith, paid for the processing charges, and who naturally expect their films back from Australia,” he said.

The delay in reimporting the processed films from Australia has arisen because unexposed and exposed films are separate and distinct tariff items. The unexposed films are imported into New Zealand on one licence, but after exposure and dispatch to Australia for processing are reimported on another. When the difficulties about release began to be met, importers stopped consignments wherever they happened to be. Some consignments are in Australia, others in Christchurch.

In an investigation now being carried out by the Minister of Customs (Mr Boord) another difficulty is being examined. When the Government decided to cut the imoortation of photographic films, based on quantities imported in 1956, it left the importers to decide what proportion of colour film they should bring in. This, it is alleged, has worked out badly for colour film users, as some importers have chosen to take all their future film supplies in the more widely used black and white film.