IMPORT LICENCES

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 76, 31 March 1939, Page 15

IMPORT LICENCES

REQUEST TO MINISTER

(By Telegraph—Press Associatioa.)

AUCKLAND, March 30.

A decision to request' the Minister of Customs (the Hon. W. Nash) to issue instructions which would enable import licences for the second half of the year to be issued without -further delay, was made at a meeting of the council of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce. .'...

Mr. J; Allum, who moved the motion, said that, judging frofh Press reports, licences for importation of goods from July 1 to December 31 of this year should have been issued by now, but it appeared that the Customs Department was still without instructions.

"It seems that licences have been issued for so-called seasonal goods, and it is difficult to see exactly what that means," Mr. Allum continued. "However, it is clear that licences-have not been issued for goods required in the ordinary and regular course of business and applicants have been informed that no instructions have been received that would enable the applications to be considered.

"One of the most important matters at present is to maintain arid improve the employment position, and this can be done only if there is a steady flow of supplies" to factories and warehouses," Mr. Allum said. "The question of import licences should be most strongly represented to the Minister."