CONTROLS ON IMPORTS

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28552, 3 April 1958, Page 5

CONTROLS ON IMPORTS

Effect On N.Z. Industry

1 Import controls were introduced as an urgent measure to halt the alarming fall in New Zealand’s overseas balances, not as some persons seemed to think, largely for the benefit of manufacturers said Mr J. R. Maddren, president of the Canterbury Manufacturers Association, yesterday. “They are creating as many problems and anxieties for manufacturers as for any other section of the business community,” he said. “We realise the seriousness of the exchange situation and are trying to cope with it in the best interests of all concerned.” The Government was obviously doing its best to provide industries with the necessary raw materials Mr Maddren said, but in many cases licences granted [were on the basis of goods used in 1956 or less. The Department of Industries and Commerce and the Customs Department had been faced with a huge task in dealing with tons of thousands of applications for licences, and it was inevitable that there would be delays.

‘‘While these delays have not been so severe in Christchurch as in Auckland, scores of manufacturers have still been hampered in their production planning,” he said. “Uncertainty over acquiring adequate supplies of raw materials, delays in obtaining licences or exchange and consequent inability to place early orders overseas will affect production in some fields. ‘‘Manufacturers are doing everything possible to overcome the problems and maintain production programmes and deliveries, but their task will not be easy,” Mr Maddren said. ‘‘They will continue to press for adequate raw materials of the right quality and variety so that production can be maintained and full employment assured.”