NO RAW MATERIALS

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4803, 28 June 1939, Page 5

NO RAW MATERIALS

MANUFACTURERS CONCERNED. LICENSES NOT GRANTED. DIFFICULTIES AHEAD. Relying on promises by the Government that licenses would be forthcoming to import raw materials for industry, many manufacturers, especially in the clothing trades, have been freely booking orders for deliveries spread to the end of the year. Some now find themselves in the position that the necessary import licenses have not been granted and they express concern at the situation in which they find themselves. Strong representations are being made to the Minister of Industries and Commerce, the Hon. D. G. Sullivan, on the subject. “We were led to believe that we could go straight ahead and develop our businesses,” said the manager of one manufacturing concern. “We have been encouraged in every way to do this in order to improve employment and ccytainly to offset unemployment among staffs of importers. As a result we are faced with heavy commitments, but we have been unable to obtain the licenses. Unless we can get the materials necessary, the first reaction will be a shortening of staffs.”

Some manufacturers are convinced that when the Government sufficiently understands the situation it has created it will authorise the granting of the import licenses desired. But in view of the stringency of overseas funds and the measures taken to eke them out, the manufacturers are not so confident that the issue of import licenses will end their difficulties. They instance the situation that has arisen in the various trades using Australian steel through the refusal of the Reserve Bank to guarantee funds against licenses.