IMPORT CONTROL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23356, 26 May 1939, Page 15

IMPORT CONTROL

NO CHANGE OCCURS MERCHANTS' ATTITUDE ONLY A MORAL VICTORY REGULATIONS BEING ENFORCED In a few isolated instances only are goods said to be held in. Auckland by the Customs Department in respect of which licences have not been obtained. For that reason attempts to secure delivery of goods based on the Supremo Court judgment invalidating the import regulations, appear to have been restricted, merchants with licences producing these in the usual course. The Customs Department is still maintaining its attitude that in the meantime the regulations will be- strictly enforced. Possibilities of insisting on possession of goods held by the department under the regulations are naturally being discussed by merchants, and legal opinions on the subject have actually been obtained. Any such contemplated action is split in most instances on two rocks. Reserve Bank's Position * In the first place', the Reserve Bank will not make sterling exchange available for payment of goods unless licences have been obtained and the procedure laid down is followed. Secondly, under Section 61 of the Customs Act, no goods' may be. removed without the authority of a customs official "Should an importer consider that goods are unreasonably held by the Customs Department, he is entitled to proceed for their recovery by legal processes," said a- customs officer. "If he attempted to remove them by other methods, he woidd involve himself in all the penalties -prescribed in such circumstances." Government Still in Control Generally speaking, the attitude of importers appears to be that the judgment, from their point of view, was a moral victory. However, the Government is not likely to be dissuaded from its policy by the setback of an adverse decision, but will take such steps as it thinks necessary to legalise its position. Neither it nor the Customs Department appears to be hesitaut in enforcing the regulations in the meantime. As one importer-expressed it: Government measures to overcome its financial difficulties have made necessary a philosophical outlook, and while a sense of grievance has undoubtedly been deepened by the latest development the realities of the situation have to be faced. The Government still controls the situation.