IMPORT CONTROL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23491, 31 October 1939, Page 8

IMPORT CONTROL

LATEST BESTRICTIONS POWER BOARD'S POSITION SHORTAGE OF STOCKS LIKELY MOVE FOR RELIEF MADE "It is very clear that the import restrictions and tho shortage of sterling funds must be- reflected detrimentally in the working of this organisation, not only for the present, but I fear well into the future, M stated Mr. R. H. Bartley, general manager of the Auckland Electric-Power Board, when lie presented the statement of revenue for the half-year at the board's meeting yesterday. "Many appliances and apparatus eagerly sought by tho board's consumers are now practically unprocurable, and in consequence our returns must be adversely and seriously affected," added Mr. Bartley. The board approved a letter sent by Jin. Bartley to the Electric Power Boards and Supply Authorities' Association asking if tho association intended to make any representations to the Government relating to some of tho latest import restrictions. In his letter Mr. Bartley said that electrical stores were totally banned from anywhere. Glassware was banned from anywhere. The board used a lot for street, lighting and had no stocks at tho present time. If this restriction was persisted in, very inferior types of fittings only could he used. Mr. Bartley said insulations were banned from anywhere. Low tension and certain high tension insulations were made in New Zealand, but many high tension types required were not and could not be made for a variety of reasons. Electric lamps had been cut to 50 per cent from the United Kingdom .and banned from elsewhere. This definitely meant a shortage of lamps, as present stocks held in the Dominion were practically exhausted. "1 suggest all these' items should be on the list to be dealt with under special applications, when it will be possible to meet each case on its merits." added Mr. Bartley. In his reply, the secretary of the association, Mr. E. W. Swain, said the restrictions had been discussed with tho Minister of Public Works, the Hon. It. Semple, who asked that the industry's case be put in writing, when he would endeavour to arrange a meeting with the Minister of Supply, the Hon. D. G. Sullivan, and the Minister of Customs, the Hon. W. Nasli, to discuss the whole position. Mr. Swain said he thought the association could definitely get some of the things on the recent restrictions changed.

DEPRECIATED EXCHANGE NEW ZEALAND SUFFERS COST OF AMERICAN GOODS ; The effect of the depreciation of sterling in terms' of the American dollar upon New Zealand's importation of American goods and machinery was emphasised yesterday by Mr. Alex Harvey, who returned by the Mariposa from a visit to the United States.

"The rise in the exchange value of the dollar, combined with other factors such as war freights and insurances, has added nearly 25 per cent to the pre-war price of anything imported into New Zealand from America," he said. "That is a tremendous blow to business and is bound to have farreaching effects. Already, numerous importers who placed orders before the war and are now obtaining deliveries at the advanced prices are placed in a very awkward position." Mr. Harvey said that earlier in the year arrangements had been made to instal American machinery in an Auckland factory for the manufacture of a which had been placed on the list of prohibited imports. The rise of 25 per cent in the estimated cost would add several thousands of pounds to the outlay and would create a difficult initial problem.