IMPORT LICENSES

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXIII, Issue 236, 3 September 1943, Page 4

IMPORT LICENSES

eighth period , no major" changes (Press Assn) WELLINGTON, Sept. 3. The basis on which applications for licenses to import goods during the eighth licensing period, which relates to the calendar ; year 1944, will be considered is set out in a schedule which has now been released for public information. • The acting-Minister of Customs (Mr Nordmeyer) states that no fundamental change has been made m the basis on which licenses have been granted for the seventh period (1943). The necessity, however, to programme requirements, particularly from the United States, and to make some goods the subject of bulked Government orders has resulted in an additional number of items being included in the "MS" category, i.e., they are subject to arrangement by the Ministry of Supply for procurement and licenses to private traders may. not be granted. The most noteworthy goods within this group are medical, surgical, and dental supplies. The arrangement respecting these goods has already beenmade known to those interested in then- importation. All applications for licenses to import goods from the United States, irrespective of whether a basic allocation is indicated in the schedule, ' will be subject to review in relation to the programme of requirements for imports from that country and for that purpose it is necessary for the applicant to furnish with his application information as to quantities and specific classes of goods which he proposes to import if his application is granted. Similar information is required respecting goods included in "control" items to be imported from countries other than the United

■States;., ' It will be necessary also in respect ot textiles of cotton, rayon and wool i.lo make application for licenses for specjfio classes of goods the quantity of which must be specified in weight and square yards. Similar particulars will be required respecting imports of such goods in 1942 by the applicant. Copies of. a special form on which this information is to be supplied are issued by Collectors of Customs. The new procedure respecting these goods is being adopt- ■ ed in order that information might be available as to the specified types and quantities of goods ordered and imported. This is considered necessary not only for the purpose of programming as required by the authorities in the United Kingdom and the United States but also for the purpose of ensuring that, the types of goods required to meet the needs of the community within the rationing and stabilisation policy are being procured. As in previous periods, tho license* for tho seventh period have been extended and made valid for imports until June 30, 1944. This applies, however, 'j only to seventh period licenses issued " originally as such and not to sixth period licenses which were extended to the seventh period.