New Schedule “Lacking Courageous Attitude”

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30712, 30 March 1965, Page 1

New Schedule “Lacking Courageous Attitude”

(A’etr Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND, March 29. Initial reaction to the 1965-66 import licensing schedule was that it “lacked a courageous attitude,” said Mr J. M. Nicklin, president of the Bureau of Importers tonight.

“While a complete appraisal of the schedule would take some little time to evaluate, it does not appear to show the courageous attitude that was hoped for by importers,” he said. “We had hoped for a greater freedom from the burdens that have been with us since 1958.”

Mr Nicklin said it was admitted that the Government had freed an extra 90 items

from licensing, but except for one of two categories such as textiles, the essential priorities of the goods exempted were raw materials, foodstuffs and agricultural equipment.

These goods would have been the subject of an adequate allocation in any case, he said. Obviously, there had been a genuine desire to improve the flexibility in the use of import licences under the new schedule.

“The Government clearly shows that it is not prepared to implement its stated policy of tariff control in place of selective import licensing,” Mr Nicklin said. “Had it been so minded, it could well have carried out a request by the bureau at a recent Wellington meeting to take controls off those items which have been ruled on by the Tariff and Development Board.” Mr Nicklin said relaxation on such items as babies’ wear and chinaware would have been of great benefit to the public and would have hardly caused an undue strain on overseas funds.

Such a step would have confirmed the work of the Tariff and Development Board, whereas, at present, importers wondered if the various public inquiries conducted by the board served any good purpose.

'“Under such circumstances what is the present Government policy?” Mr Nicklin asked. "There is no doubt that import licensing is costing New Zealand dearly. “Failure to promote New Zealand industry in a competitive atmosphere is not likely to provide the proper conditions on which to base the country’s prosperity for the future.” But manufacturers and farmers welcomed the new schedule.

The president of the Manufacturers’ Federation, Mr S. J. Paul, said the greater freedom to import raw materials was welcomed. So was Mr Shelton’s statement that exemptions would be permanent.

Mr J. G. Pryde, general secretary of Federated Farmers, said: “We are very elated about the exemption of farm machinery. It seems to be what we asked the Government for a few weeks ago."

The president of the Federation of labour (Mr T. E. Skinner) said he was not ready to comment on the schedule tonight. So far he had only had a “superficial look" at it, and would reserve any remarks until he had studied it in detail. The chairman of the Monetary and Economic Council (Mr E. D. Wilkinson) said that last February, the council had recommended the gradual but complete dismantling of import controls. (Mr Shelton, Page 9)