RELEASE OF TRANSISTORS

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29170, 2 April 1960, Page 14

RELEASE OF TRANSISTORS

Private Imports Tightened

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, April 1.

Certain parcel imports, including many transistor radios, at present held by the Customs Department, were now to be released, said the Minister of Customs (Mr Boord) today 1 . “The purpose of recentlygazetted amendments to the import licensing exemptions relating to private importations under £lO in value and to gifts is to tighten up the terms of earlier exemptions for these classes of goods and so make them less subject to abuses which have been occurring.” he said.

The amendments clarified the position which is that with the exception of those radio sets which are entitled to admission under the exemption relating to passengers’ baggage and effects, all radio sets (even gifts) now require an import licence before importation will be permitted. Also, any goods whatsoever which are imported as the result of solicitation in New Zealand. whether by advertiser or other mons, are subject to the reauiremenfs of the import control regulations. “The need for these amendments has been highlighted by the actions of several organisations both inside and outside New Zealand.” said Mr 1 Boord. These organisations had been advertising and soliciting orders in this country for a wide range of goods, including cameras, binoculars, projectors, recordings and, in particular, transistor radios, and arranging for the dispatch of goods by parcel mail “This type of transaction is still °xcluded in the amended exemptions just gazetted.” he said. “No-one wishes to interfere with the free interchange of true gifts, but there is a very real doubt whether many of the transistor radio sets being imported are actually gifts. “I am quite satisfied that most Oi the persons who have goods detained by the Customs Department are unaware that the law was being infringed;”

Therefore, it had been decided to release on payment of duty and sales tax. those goods which were detained prior to March 31.

The Collector of Customs for Christchurch (Mr G. H. Lindsay), said that the regulations were aimed at stopping illegal importation and smuggling. The ban on wine and spirits was to stop a growing practice in some cities of having large quantities of liquor sent into the country as gifts and thus avoiding customs duties. The wine and spirits exemption had a long history, said Mr Lindsay. A previous Minister of Customs had placed a sales tax on these goods entering the country as large quantities of liqupr were being brought in from the islands. The practice had not been curbed and it was felt necessary to have a complete exemption.