IMPORT LICENCES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23772, 27 September 1940, Page 9

IMPORT LICENCES

MOTOR TRADE PROTEST CLOSING OF PLANTS LIKELY [BT TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION] WELLINGTON, Thursday The Motor Trade Federation wishes to make an emphatic protest against tlie treatment of their industry xinder fifth period import licences, according to the president, Mr. C. R. Edmond, who in a statement to-day says the restrictions will lead to the _ closing down of assembly plants and will probably mean that the trade will be unnbo to pay its contribution to the war purposes loan. There is a slight easing regarding spare parts and tyres, but the trade considered there should be no restriction. When no new vehicles were coming it was necessary that spare parts should be available to keep up the old vehicles. The main issue. Mr. Edmond said, was the total prohibition of the importation of cars for a while in 1941, which would lead to the closing down of assembly plants and the dismissal of many workers. The importation of commercial vehicles would not provide much assembly work. He emphasised that these restrictions had been placed on the industry at a time when British manufacturers were appealing for orders to keep up British trade. Referring to the war purposes loan, Mr. Edmond said the year on which contributions were to be computed had been a good one in the motor industry, but seeing that no import licences were granted in the last half of 1940 and now there would be none for 1941, he did not see how the industry was going to pay its share of the compulsory loan.