LOCAL INDUSTRY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23704, 11 January 1939, Page 6

LOCAL INDUSTRY

IMPORTS OF MATERIALS EASING OF RESTRICTIONS EXPECTED MANUFACTURERS SATISFIED (Per United Press Association) AUCKLAND, Jan. 10. Several instances were cited at a meeting of the executive of the Auckland Manufacturers’ Association to-day of the imposition of restructions on the importation of raw materials required for manufacturing. It was assumed, however, that such restrictions had been imposed as a matter of routine in the particular form in which applications had been made, and that, when a full explanation was made to the department of the purposes for which the materials in question were desired, licences would be issued. “ We have been assured that such matters will be rectified,” said the president (Mr H. W. Shove) in a subsequent statement. “So far as we know, raw materials have not been put in a special list for absolute preference. Apparently, the department is working on the basis of the importations of raw materials for the first six months of last year, but with the development of manufacturing as a result of the control scheme a greater volume of raw materials in particular instances will be necessary. Any attempt to stick rigidly to six months’ quantities in the particular circumstances would presumably defeat the intention of the Government to develop industries. With the knowledge of such intention, we are quite satisfied that the position will be eased where necessary to give industry its chance.” Discussing the footwear industry, with which he is intimately associated. Mr Shove said that many factories were busy and had already experienced difficulties in obtaining sufficient girls. The industry had not yet got into its stride after the holidays, and had yet to ascertain what fresh female labour would be offering from the ranks of those who had finished at the schools. INCREASED BUSINESS HIGHER PRICES NOT EXPECTED A MANUFACTURER’S VIEWS (Per United Press Association) WELLINGTON, Jan. 10, Manufacturing firms in Wellington are not yet ready to comment in detail on the effect that the import control regulations will have on their business, although they agree that there must be a substantial increase. “The adoption of the regulations Is the finest thing that has ever been done for the New Zealand manufacturer,” said Mr G. S. Amos, of Amos Softgoods, Ltd., to-day. “Already we have had numerous inquiries from firms which in the past have imported their requirements. ■i “My own opinion,” Mr Amos said, "is that the restriction on imports will have the effect of taking up the sag with which local manufacturers have always had to contend. We have only one market—New Zealand—and if we can’t sell here we can’t sell at all.” The restriction of imports, Mr Amos said, would not mean an increase in the price of locally-manu-factured goods because the turnover would increase. Local firms would also become more efficient in the production of certain lines. In the past they had had '.o confidence to put in new machines, but now with an assured market ahead of them they could begin to develop. Mr Amos said he expected a large increase in employment. There might at first be some difficulty in obtaining the necessary labour, but that, he believed, would soon right itself. “ Formerly we have had to put girls off at certain periods of the year,” he said. “They have then been absorbed into other occupations and we have not been able to get them back when we were busy. If we can keep them in guaranteed permanent employment all the year round we will be able to build up a happy and, incidentally, a more efficient staff.” DELAY IN LICENCE ISSUE POSITION OF WELLINGTON FIRMS EVIDENCE OF MORE HOPEFUL OUTLOOK (Per United Press Association) WELLINGTON, Jan. 10. Most of the important importing firms in Wellington have not yet received the import licences for which they applied several weeks ago. The issue of Wellington licences appears to be taking longer than those in other centres, and several importers interviewed to-day said they were being forced to the conclusion that the licences were being held back in Wellington until the Customs Department had time to gauge the tenor of the objections to those already issued elsewhere. Principals with whom the control situation was discussed to-day were distinctly more hopeful in outlook than a few days ago, and in most instances expressed their belief that the restrictions would be much less than was at first thought. One expressed regret at the publication of statements based on the experience of individual importers. Certain goods had been stated to be banned when all that had happened was that one man’s application had been refused, either on the ground that he had not previously imported similar goods, of that he had not imported them during the first six months of 1938. One list purporting to contain items that had been completely banned was, in some instances, so absurd that one wondered how it could have been seriously received at all. There was a general feeling that many apparent injustices and anomalies brought about by some of the licences already issueu will be rectified, and that such difficulties were inevitable in the general application of any system of restriction.