IMPORT LICENSING

Grey River Argus, 24 July 1941, Page 7

IMPORT LICENSING

1942 ALLOCATIONS Provision for Raw Materials (Per Government Favour) WELLINGTON, July 23. Details of allocations for licenses to import goods in 1942 are announced by the • Hon. W. Nash, Minister of Customs. Provision is being made at this stage, said Mr Nash, in consideration of representations made by manufacturers who, in view of the difficulty and delays being experienced in obtaining goods, more particularly from the United Kingdom but also from other countries, desire the opportunity to place orders for materials overseas as soon as possible in order to ensure that supplies will be available when required in 1942. The' Government are anxious to assist manufacturers in this connection as far as circumstances will permit, added Mr Nash, but licenses must be related to funds available and, in view of the uncertainty attaching to our export trade under existing conditions, it would be appreciated that any allocations now made as a charge against funds likely to become available in 1942 but of which no reliable estimate can at present be made must be kept ' within reasonable limits.

Further than that, said the Minister, apart from the charges in the form of interest on overseas loans, etc., normally to be met from sued funds there will be heavy additional commitments in respect of imports by tne State for defence purposes and provision is also necessary to meet some of the costs of maintenance or our forces overseas.

Licenses issued tor imports during the present year, said Mr Nash, have exceeded the amount for which it had been proposed to issue licenses but it is known that, in view of the difficulty now met in obtaining certain classes of goods overseas, a considerable portion of the licenses will not come to charge prior to the end of the year. The whole position has been carefully considered, continued Mr Nash, and it has been decided that, in tne circumstances, the best course to take is to extend 1941 licenses into 1942 and to make such additional allocation for 1942 as conditions will permit.

The 1941 licenses will be valid for imports up to 30th June, 1942, but not later. It is possible that in certain cases it might be found impossible under existing conditions to obtain the goods lor which a license has been granted. In such cases it is’ particularly desired that the licenses should be surrendered immediately the position is known in order that as complete a record as possible may be had of the licenses in respect of which it is necessary to provide funds.

Licenses for the 1942 allocation which is now being made will De granted on the following basis:— Items in group A: Allocation for imports from United Kingdom and Crown Colonies onlv will be granted up to 50 per cent, of value of licenses granted for imports from those sources in 1940.

Items in group AA: .a. location for imports from United Kingdom and “other British" countries will be granted up to 50 per cent, of the vaiue of licenses granted for imports from those sources in 1940.

Items in group B: Allocation for mports from all sources, will be granted up to 50 per cent, of the value of licenses granted for imports from those sources in 1940.

Items in group BB; Allocation for imports from ail sources will be granted up to 100 per cent, of the value of licenses granted for imports from those sources in 1940.

Items in group C: Items now regarded as “Control” and for which applications will be considered individually.

Items in group D: Items for which no allocation is made. The items included in the various groups are indicated by the appropriate group letter in the accompanying schedule. In resnect of a small number of items, it has been necessary as a result of no separate allocation having been provided in 1940 fop the particular goods in question or for some other reason to relate the allocation for 1942 to licenses granted in 1941. Where this has been done the schedule is noted accordingly, together with any other variations. It should be understood that the allocations granted during 1940 or 1941, as tne case may be, on which the 1942 allocations are based will exclude allocations granted in consideration of some special condition such as "No remittance,” “Deferred Payment,” or “Repiacement of goods lost," etc. Owing to complications arising out of the difficult supply position due to the war it is not possible to give any general permission for the transfer of authorisations from one country to another, requests for any such transfer will require to be considered individually. Where transfer was permitted in 1940 or 1941, basic allocation for 1942 will be granted only for the country in, respect of which ■the license was originally granted in 1940 or 1941.

I would like to repeat, added Mr Nash, that these allocations are being provided at the present time for the express purpose of enabling orders to be placed overseas, more particularly in the United Kingdom, in order to give reasonable prospect of the goods being delivered in 1942. It is not intended that the licenses should be utilised to arrange for imports prior to 1942 and it is not desired that that should be done as it ma- involve a charge on our funds this year which might give rise to some difficulty. The issue of further licenses for the Fifth Period (year 1941) will cease as from the end of the present month.

In urgent cases, special consideration will be given to applications for licenses to obtain goods which are at present unavailable and which are vital and essential to the maintenance of the life of the Dominion.

The urgent necessity under existing conditions to cut down our imports to an absolute minimum will, 1 think, be generally recognised, concluded Mr Nash. The Mother Country has annealed to us most strongly to economise to the utmost in order that the smallest possible drain might be made on the resources available for prosecution of the war. There should be no necessity, he said, to s-tress the vital need for this.