The Press FRIDAY, APRIL 7, 1972. The import schedule

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 32885, 7 April 1972, Page 8

The Press FRIDAY, APRIL 7, 1972. The import schedule

The average price of non-woollen carpets imported to New Zealand rose 17 per cent between the six months ended December, 1970, and the same period of 1971. If this trend continues throughout the 1972-73 licensing year the 10 per cent increase in basic import licences for carpets will not provide for the same level of imports as in the current licensing year. Non-woollen carpets, however, are not an important item in most New Zealanders’ budgets, and the 17 per cent increase in price is exceptional; most imports increased about 10 per cent in price in the same period. Even so, the 10 per cent increase in most licences will permit virtually no increase in Imports above the level allowed by the current schedule. The Government Statistician’s projections of import payments for all private imports—licensed and exempted—show virtually no increase in payments for the current licensing year compared with 1970-71, despite the release of some $25 million worth of imports from licensing and an increase of 7J per cent in most basic licences. The cautious business climate and the tight credit situation have evidently more than offset last year’s modest liberalisations. Only 31 per cent of all New Zealand’s imports—including Government imports—in the first half of the present licensing year were imported under import licences. This figure, however, gives a false impression of the degree of protection afforded New Zealand manufacturers by the licensing system. Most articles for everyday use in New Zealand which would compete with locally-made articles are not provided for at all in the schedule, or may be imported only in token quantities. It is encouraging, therefore, that the Minister of Industries and Commerce (Mr Taiboys) and the Minister of Customs (Mr Gair) have again stated the Government’s intention of “ replacing import licensing, as far as is practicable, “with customs tariffs as the principal means of “ protection of New Zealand industry ”.