OVERSEAS GOODS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23758, 11 September 1940, Page 11

OVERSEAS GOODS

|THE FIFTH PERIOD / i IMPORTERS', IMPRESSIONS An impression that schedules for fifth period licences will be issued before the end of September exists among many Auckland importers, but so far there is no actual information on the subject nor anything to .suggest the Government's intentions. It is generally expected that the period will be for a year—that is, for> the whole of 1941 — instead of for six'months. This assumption is seemingly based largely on a statement by the Minister of Customs, the Hon. W. Nash, when issuing the foiirth period schedule on April 11 last. He then said: "The question whether licences will in future be issued on an annual basis, which appears to have certain advantages, will be considered prior to determination of the basis lor the issue of licences for 1941.'

Prior to that statement; strong representations liacl been made to Mr. Nash on the subject, by importing interests "which• favour tfie 12 months term because it permits traders to place orders ahead of shipment, a practice necessary, in many instances in normal times and much more so under war conditions. An indication that the Government is investigating the position of/the demands which imports will make on overseas funds is the request the Customs Department has made to importing organisations regarding rises in the prices of goods overseas. In the meantime, serious shortages exist in many essential commodities, but there is nothing yet to indicate that the Government intends to lighten the present restrictions on imports.