IMPORT LICENSES

Hokitika Guardian, 28 April 1939, Page 3

IMPORT LICENSES

Vdeferred payment offer.

- V(Per Press. Association.—Copyright)

AUCKLAND, April 27

The prediction tha*- within the next . week.Uhe public would ''learn that cer-tia-iri .goods i/auld be allowed entry into, the Dominion under arrangements frir ‘deferred payment wa s made by Mr lt; M. Algie, organiser of the New .Zealand. Freedom Association, in an address tornight on the’ import control 'regulations’ One clause in the regu ( lations. said Mr Algie, gave the llinisi. .ter, for Customs ( power to prohibit; the .importation of any goods, and last Monday a list of the prohibited commodities had been published.

ain going tp without fear of contradietion,” he continued, “that 'this is a very unfair .and mischievous provision, ’ The Minister, moveover has stated that those who can arrange for,paymdnt' to v be' deferred for 12 months .will have their applications for import permit o favourably considered. T invite you to watch the newspapers ■‘during the next week to see if the clause is used,' and how it is .used/’ To' show tHe unfairness' of the Minisoffer, Mr Algie asked liis hearers to assume that only three firms i m•ported cotton goods into , New Zealand, If one of these was ; a .wealthy concern, with good he said, and,. tie other two were "struggling young-

sters,” the .wealthy, firm would be able to' apply-for .a permit, and to state that it ■. was able to obtain extended credit ’for a period of say, 18 months, and ho call.; would be .made on New Zealand sterling funds ivithin that .period; Perhaps a permit would be granted, but the' other two firms, being financially weaker, -would be unable to obtain the same treatment. “Is that'fair?’’ asked " the speaker. “If cotton is prohibited, none should be able to get .it, and least of all the strong men. I advise you to watch the newspapers. You -need not keep it up for more than a week, arid you will See something. You will see how tjhese discretions are operated.” , "import par overcome, ■ AUCKLAND, April 27. Arrangements have been made by Mr J. K. Carruthers, representing the Distillers Company, Limited, of Scotland, and * Mr Percy Coyle, representing the New Zealand; Licensed Tra'de, with the Government, for the importai tion of supplies .of spirits, under license J for the second six months of 1939 in terms of the conditions urider the ImI port Control Regulations, i Spirits were included in the lines of j overseas goods which were completely prohibited in the schedule announced j by the Minister of Customs (Hon. IV. r Nash), last -Saturday. At the same j time, the Minister said that the major 1 factor responsible for restrictions at this time was the conservation of sterling funds, hut, should fit bp, possible

for importers to arrange for goods to be supplied without a call on the Dominion’s overseas funds, every consideration would be given to any applications which- they Plight make in that regard. Further reference to this undertaking was made by Mr Nash in the cdurse of his broadcast address on Tuesday night, from Wellington.

MONEY TO STAY IN N.Z

DUNEDIN, April 27

It is understood, as the resuit of a meeting between the representatives in New Zealand of wine and spirit, firms operating in Great Britain, and members of Cabinet, an arrangement has been come to uder which the import restrictions on spirits will be relaxed to allow a reasonable quantity to be brought into New Zealand. The agreement is conditional, it is stated, on the amount of the purchase price, remaining in the Dominion for a period of 12 months.

It may be pointed out that, if this arrangement is approved by the British firms, the position will be similar to that which obtained when'the exchange was raised to its present rate. At that time. Home firms connected with the sale of spirits left the purchase money in the Dominion, awaiting a time when the exchange rate might be removed or reduced. When these firms were subsequently informed that there was no likelihood of the exchange rate -being removed, they made the best of the position, and lifted their money.