State's Policy On Import Licences

Northern Advocate, 10 March 1948, Page 5

State's Policy On Import Licences

AUCKLAND, Wed. (P.A.) "Although we cannot agree that the provision by the Government for 1948 if import licences for factory raw materials is altogether reasonable, we nevertheless appreciate the statement by the. Minster of Customs in response to our recent representations,” said the president of the New Zealand Manufacturers’ Federation (Mr S Howard Hunter).

He was referring to yesterday's statement by the Minister on import licences.

“This is the first such ministerial announcement which has given any indication of the Government's policy on this matter to the current licensing period,” Mr Hunter added. “The statement did indicate the Government’s intention to allocate on a reasonably equitable basis the sterling funds which it estimated would' be available. STARTING POINT Further, it also gave the commercial community a starting point for more specific consideration of the issues involved in this all-important question. “It would be recognised that manufacturers had a dual responsibility to the community, firstly, to supply consumer goods and, secondly, to safeguard full employment.

“The Federation must now re-exam-j ine the position to ensure that manuj facturers were supplied with adequate j licences to maintain production and employment. “If in the effort to live within our income our industrial structure was threatened .then the whole picture must be closely analysed by the Government and available alternatives adopted to avoid such a crisis. “Manufacturers can no longer conceal their concern at the protracted delays in decisions concerning licences. “It almost appears that the work involved has grown beyond the capacity of the administrative machine and manufacturers feel that any undue delay in granting the maximum licences possible 'would certainly aggravate an already difficult position.”