BANNED IMPORTS

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 100, 24 October 1940, Page 14

BANNED IMPORTS

CORRECTING THE TRADE BALANCE

Although Australian trading in September increased the unfavourable merchandise balance, remarked the "Sydney Morning Herald," the position for the first three months of the financial year was- better than that in the corresponding period of last year. Exports in the three months ended September 30 were £5tg6,120,000 higher than in the corresponding period, and imports were £5tg5,393,000, higher. The unfavourable commodity balance at the end of three months was £5tg4,738,000, compared with an unfavourable balance of £5tg5,465,000 for the first three months of 1939-40. " Figures for the three months ai-e: — • 1939-40. 1940-41. SstglOOO. £stSlt)OO. I Merchandiser • ■Exports '...-....... 19,433 2.">,5a3 >..,...,.. 24,51>8 30,201 Imports excess . : ..-...., 5.465 4,738 The trade position as disclosed by the above returns may be taken to explain in- part the restrictions placed by Australia on imports as from October 11. Total restrictions, include the largest number of articles many of ■which would have come from Great Britain. Among them are many manufactures of metal, marble for monumental purposes, wicker and bamboo manufactures, orchestral instruments, fountain pens, artists' materials, cameras, silk twists, dental units, smoked and dried fish (some supplied by New Zealand). Other items are restricted by 75, 50, or 25 per cent, as the case may be, .and these include canned fish, vacuum flasks, towels, and towelling (except for kitchen use), •wireless valves, and artificial sausage skins. It has been decided that 50 per cent, by value of base year imports from non-sterling sources will continue to be admitted, but the specific commodities that will be permitted importation will exclude those which, it. is considered, are either non-essential, are made in Australia, or are made in ■ other sterling areas.