IMPORT RESTRICTIONS

Evening Star, Issue 23451, 16 December 1939, Page 12

IMPORT RESTRICTIONS

BUSINESS AND STAFF RETRENCHMENTS PLIGHT OF IMPORTERS SERIOUS Import restrictions are having their effect upon a number of business houses. So much so in fact that statt retrenchments have been made. In other instances curtailments are contemplated after the holidays. Importing firms have been the hardest hit, for in a number of cases they have found it impossible to import the goods which form the very basis of their businesses. In both heavy and light hardware the position is being keenly felt. An instance of how restrictions are affecting business is demonstrated by the following quotation from a letter just to hand:—“ It is with regret that we have to advise that, due to the continued severe restrictions under the Import Control Regulations, we have found it necessary to close our office The company concerned has branches throughout New Zealand, and in all, 14 members of the staff have been rendered idle. Discussing the position with the manager concerned, a ‘ Star ' reporter was told the position was really becoming desperate with a number of importing concerns. Nothing could be done about it, and staffs would have to go until such time as the restrictions were eased. In the curtailment or complete closing down of importing businesses, the trouble in all cases was not a temporary one, as business connections were lost completely, was the opinion expressed.