Spirits Imports Restrictions Relaxed

Northern Advocate, 28 April 1939, Page 8

Spirits Imports Restrictions Relaxed

[Special to “Northern Advocate ”] AUCKLAND, This Day. It is reported that arrangements have been made by Mr J. K. Carruthers, representing the Distillers’ Company, Ltd., of Scotland, and Mr Percy Coyle, representing the New Zealand licensed trade, with the Government for the importation of supplies of spirits under license for the second six months of 1939, in terms of the conditions under the Import Control Regulations, f Spirits were included in the lines of overseas goods which were completely prohibited in the schedule announced by the Minister of Customs, the Hon. W. Nash, last Saturday. Details of Agreement. A Wellington telegram says it is understood that the import restrictions on spirits will be relaxed to allow a reasonable quantity to be brought into New Zealand. The Egreement is conditional, it is stated, cn the amount of the purchase price remaining in the Dominion for d period of twelve months.

It may be pointed out that if this arrangement is approved by British firms, the position will be similar to that which obtained when the exchange rate was raised to its present rate.

At that time, British 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.