Criticism Of Licensing

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31195, 20 October 1966, Page 11

Criticism Of Licensing

(N.Z. Press Association) AUCKLAND. October 19. British exporters understood the need for import licensing in New Zealand but felt that the system was far too complicated and time-con-suming, Mr J. Butler, the deputy-chairman of the British Committee for Exports to New Zealand, said in Auckland.

He felt the licences should be allocated, not on a historical basis of what the importer had done in the past, but on what he intended to do in the future.

The holders of import licences should have to prove that they were viable businesses with plans to expand. They should have a real “get-up-and-go attitude.” Mr Butler said the biggest opportunity for British exports to New Zealand lay in the field of machinery, machine tools, electronics and agricultural equipment. Britain welcomed the growth of New Zealand industry and its exports of manufactured goods because it increased the need for machine tools and other sophisticated equipment, and provided a better chance for trade. ‘‘But Britain will have to be much less sentimental in its business with New Zealand in future,” Mr Butler said. “We can only trade on sound business relations.” A former New Zealander who has been in Britain for many years, Mr Butler said he was impressed by what he had seen on New Zealand development on this visit. “You’ve got the roads and cities and other services to house and feed a much larger population, but you need more money,” he said. “New Zealand must be bold and increase her investments from overseas and increase her immigration. “Successive governments must face up to the fact that ‘doing it yourself’ is a hard

way to expand. It’s much easier to do it with a greater amount of investment” The personal taxation limit of £3500 was “far too low in modern economic terms.” It

would provide an opportunity for greater growth if it was raised. Mr Butler will leave tomorrow after spending a week in the country.