CONTROL OF IMPORTS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXII, 21 January 1939, Page 4

CONTROL OF IMPORTS

; POSITION OF SMALLER PORTS ADEQUATE CONSIDERATION URGED ; (United Preen Annotation! GREYMOUTH, 20th January. The necessity for approaching the [ Government in a conciliatory spirit in an endeavour to remove anomalies aris- , ing out of the import regulations was . stressed at a meeting of Greymouth , importers called to-day by the Greyi mouth Chamber of Commerce. I It was pointed out that the Gov- » ernment had been compelled to take action to conserve the London fund*, but that the position was not fully understood, particularly regarding importers of seasonal goods, who were unable to import in the first half of the year if they had not done so last year. It was decided to send delegates to i the Wellington conference with ini structlons to endeavour to have the l licenses based on importations for two 1 years or, alternatively, for a whole ! i year, instead of six months. The delegates were also instructed to endeavour to secure adequate consideration for the smaller ports, it bei ing pointed out that, in the past, when a new tariff was imposed, importers outside the main centres had been placed at a disadvantage. PALMERSTON NORTH WILL WAIT PALMERSTON N„ 20th January. Preferring to await the outcome of the conference at Wellington next week with the object of clarifying the position, a special meeting of importers and business men to-day decided in the i meantime not to sign the petition framed in Auckland asking that the import j regulations be revoked until their validity is tested in Court It was also ! decided to submit for clarification any i special circumstances of anomalies ap- I plying locally. The opinion was expressed that the j import restrictions would be followed by a rise in the cost of living which was already manifesting itself.