Manufacturers Welcome “New Look” Of Schedule

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 29021, 9 October 1959, Page 3

Manufacturers Welcome “New Look” Of Schedule

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, October 8.

A new look had been given to the import licensing schedule, which at first sight seemed to fit in with most of the wishes and requirements of manufacturers, said Mr W. A. Bascand, president of the New Zealand Manufacturers’ Federation, in m supplied statement -on the 19(H) import licensing schedule tonight. “The introduction of the replacement and group category licences appears to put into effect many of the recommendations our federation has made to the departments, and the Ministers of Customs and Industries and Commerce, and their staffs are to be congratulated on these innovations,” he said. “The allocations for manufacturers in the 1960 schedule appear in most cases to be adequate to enable them to meet present demands for their products. Demands, however, are likely to increase with a return to, more buoyant trading conditions in the coming 12 months, and there may be cases where licences prove inadequate. These will be taken up with the appropriate departments as the need arises. “Sensible Move” “Administrative changes should give far greater flexibility in obtaining the raw. materials and components necessary to keep industry operating smoothly, and should assist manufacturers and other importers in their placing of forward orders. The extension of the 1959 licensing period to enable goods to be landed up to January 31, 1960, is a sensible and helpful move,” said Mr Bascand.

Most manufacturers would not disagree with the principle of token imports of manufactured goods, provided the volume of imports was not allowed to expand unreasonably year by year, he said.

“We would agree that token imports provide the public, retailers, and manufacturers themselves with a basis on which to compare New Zealand products with those of other countries, and I am satisfied that in most cases the quality and design of our own goods will show up more than favourably in any such comparison.

New Tariff Policy Urged “But, parallel with a policy of token imports, it is absolutely imperative that we should have a new tariff policy. Before New Zealand goes too far along the road of freeing imports of manufactured goods, we should have a revised customs tariff adequate to achieve the double purpose of safeguarding our industries and helping to prevent another running down of our overseas funds by over-importations. “Such a tariff is particularly necessary now that there is no distinction between scheduled and non-scheduled countries in the matter of token imports, so that the products of low-cost countries are included.

“Moreover, a limited flow of imports would serve to test such a new tariff and allow any necessary changes to be made before harm was done to a local industry. Now is the time for a new customs tariff, and our federation will continue to press for it.”