Benefit Depends On Import Licences

Northern Advocate, 24 August 1948, Page 5

Benefit Depends On Import Licences

WELLINGTON, Tue. (P.A.).—The amount of benefit that would be derived from the abolition of the 25 per cent exchange on Britain would depend on import licences available said the president of the United Kingdom Manufacturers and New Zealand Representatives’ Association (Mr A. Wyness) at the annual meeting this afternoon. The association, he said, had always considered the imposition of the 25 per cent exchange an unwarranted penalty against United Kingdom manufacturers.

Its sudden and complete abolition would have varied effects, and until these were assessed the full benefit oi otherwise could not be gauged. “The Minister of Finance is reported as saying that it would benefit the Mother country in that her commodities would be available to the New Zealand public at a reduced price,” said Mr Wyness. IMPORT CONTROL “In the next breath he said there was still import control to offset any effect the lower prices might have and that unused portions of existing import licences would be reduced by 20 per cent. “If the next period licences are issued on this basis, what added assistance will be given to the United Kingdom export drive? “The Minister informed this association recently that over £122,000,03C worth of import licerpes had beer granted as at the end of June this year. “I suggest that in view of unbalanced stocks held in this Dominion today, this is confirmation that import control as at present operated is a failure, and should be abolished. “It is unwarranted and unjust for the Minister to endeavour to throw over to the importer the blame for the present unbalanced state of the New Zealand market. MARKET NEEDS “If the Government takes full control of what allocations shall be made —to whom and at what time, irrespective of season or availability—then it is the Government’s responsibility to know down to the last packet of pins what the market requires, or establish a committee or board of men who do know.

“If control is necessary, why not let it be monetary. “Give the importer an allocation of sterling and let him buy what he wishes.

“He won’t bufy goods which the market does not require the second time. . “Bureaucratic control is the antithesis of our democratic conception of life, but today we find the man in the street, with a few exceptions, becoming more and more the servant of the Government, rather than the Government being the servant of the people.”