IMPORTS “TO LIVE WITHIN INCOME”

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31349, 20 April 1967, Page 1

IMPORTS “TO LIVE WITHIN INCOME”

(New tealand Press Association)

AUCKLAND, April 19.

The Minister of Customs (Mr Shelton) said tonight the import schedule permitted “activity that will keep the country prosperous within the overseas funds available.”

“We have to live within our income and use our resources to the maximum,” he told the annual dinner of the Auckland Whole* sale Textile Association.

Mr Shelton said there were sufficient goods available and wholesalers should look to all sources of supply. All traders should plan for the licensing year in terms of the provision of the schedule. “It is necessary to slow down and consolidate to maintain a steady rate of development,” he said. “The provision made in the schedule allows for a level of activity that will keep the country prosperous within the overseas funds available.”

Many softgoods wholesalers might think that where there had been a reduction in the importation of finished goods, additional raw material provision would be made for domestic industry. “Desirable as this may be, it is not possible in the present situation,” Mr Shelton said.

In general, it was not possible to provide for price increases on raw materials, but in the event of such increases being abnormally high, consideration would be given to individual cases.

In determining the provision for woollen piecegoods, many factors were considered, including the need to promote maximum use of wool pro-

ducts; to make adequate use of domestic production in the interests of continued development of the wool-processing industries in New Zealand; to give the textile and garment industries access to satisfactory materials to enable them to supply the needs of consumers in this country. Dealing with man-made yams and fibres, Mr Shelton said increased imports of acrylic fibre would be made for mills to produce acrylic yams, thereby giving supplies of yam at least up to the levels provided for other raw materials.