SHORTAGES FEARED: LATE ANNOUNCEMENT OF IMPORT SCHEDULE

Greymouth Evening Star, 15 October 1948, Page 4

SHORTAGES FEARED: LATE ANNOUNCEMENT OF IMPORT SCHEDULE

Greymouth businessmen, particularly those in the clothing trade, are concerned at the Government’s delay in issuing the 1949 import licensing schedule. The hold-up is regarded as a seribus handicap to the trade and may result in many shortages next winter.

It had been expected that the schedule would have been announced before now, and retailers had accordingly requested theii- overseas buyers to submit offers and samples. These came to hand some weeks ago, but were subject to being unsold, and retailers have now had no choice but to decline offers. “Goods which should have arrived here next January are now certain to be considerably delayed, and may arrive out of season,” said one Greymouth retailer today. He ( pointed out that with so many rumours of drastic alterations in the schedule, retailers could not anticipate their licences with the measure of confidence which they usually had at this time. “If the release of the schedule is delayed much longer, it may be too late to order the goods required hero for next winter,” he added, “and there may be a shortage of many winter lines as a result.” The delay would be bad enough in normal times, ho said, but the position was further complicated by various factory handicaps and shortages and the slow delivery rate. With the possibility that no new imports will arrive for next winter, the import licences might have to be used for 1950 summer lines, it has been stated.

The clothing trade is not the only one whose operations has been embarrassed by the long delay, and other retail firms selling imported goods fear that their range of stocks may be exhausted before they can arrange for further imports to replenish their supplies. Most firms purchase goods to last from year to year and, unless they hold unusually large -stocks, their position will be difficult early next year.

Though the new application forms are available, no progress can be made in even preparing these for lodgment immediately the schedule appeared, for the filling-in is tied to the exact wording in the schedule.