IMPORT CONTROL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23274, 17 February 1939, Page 13

IMPORT CONTROL

GOODS FOE. STATE LICENSING PROCEDURE MODIFICATION ANNOUNCED A modification of the procedure in connection with applications for licences permitting merchants and private contractors to import goods for supply to Government departments or for use on Government contracts was announced yesterday by the Minister of Customs, the Hon. W. Nash. The Minister explained that in applying in respect of the first licensing period, merchants and private contractors had included in the value of their imports during the corresponding period of 1938 the value of goods imported and supplied to the Government, as well as those brought into the country for ordinary trading. Licences had been issued accordingly. It was now considered preferable, to avoid any difficulties, that as far as import licences were concerned, goods imported to be supplied to the Government should bo the subject of separate applications.

In future it would be necessary for importers to show in their the value of the goods imported, in 1938, excluding the value of goods supplied to the Government, Mr. Nash tiaid. The value of goods imported for the Government would be shown separately. Ordinary licences would be issued on the basis of the former value. Separate applications should be made in respect of goods specially imported for supply to the Government or in replacement of goods supplied from ordinary stocks. It was not correct that no licences were required for the importation of books and medicines, the Minister added. Licences were needed for all commercial products, but there were no restrictions on books and medicines.

INTRODUCTION OF PLAN

PRIOR NOTICE IMPOSSIBLE MR. SAVAGE'S CONTENTION The Government's procedure in enforcing import control was defended bv the Prime Minister, Mr. Savage, in an interview-with the Standard on the subject of last week's Labour Party caucus. The Minister of Customs, the Hon. W. Nash, said Mr. Savage, made it clear to the caucus that it was not possible to think of control without hurting someone. However, he had set out to effect it with the least disruption possible. "ft was no more possible to announce a plan for import control" than it was to announce the details of a new tariff bill,'' continued the Prime Minister, "because the moment you start dealing with people in outside circles there is a clanger of the whole effect being destroyed if tariff changes are known beforehand."

The same thing applied •to import control. People were asking why the Government could not prepare its plans beforehand. His reply was that there was every reason for not doing so, as the result might have been to destroy tho objective the Government had in mind.