AUSTRALIAN IMPORTS

Evening Star, Issue 25893, 10 September 1946, Page 8

AUSTRALIAN IMPORTS

QUESTION OF LICENSING RESTRICTIONS REfiUEST FDR REMOVAL REFUSED (Rec. 8 a.m.) CANBERRA, Sept. 9: The Government rejected an appeal by the Associated Chambers of Commerce for the removal of import licensing restrictions in goods from Britain and other sterling countries. The chambers in their request pointed out that , trade was hampered by “ timewasting, form-filling requirements,” and delays in obtaining import licenses. In some cases, with a big world market clamouring for supplies, the British exporter could not be delayed by the Australian importer securing his license and goods were diverted to other markets. Restrictions remained on 40 per cent, of the pre-war annual imports from sterling countries. The Minister of Trade and Customs, Senator J. M. Fraser, in his reply, said: “ The Government has expressed its policy that quantitative restrictions on imports wall be retained only so long as the position regarding the balance of payments makes this necessary. It is apparent that, although the present level of Australian reserves is higher than formerly, the prospective level is uncertain.”