IMPORT LICENCES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26199, 9 July 1946, Page 4

IMPORT LICENCES

SCHEDULE FOR NEW PERIOD EARLY ANNOUNCEMENT APPRECIATED It cannot be said that Dunedin importers have greeted the announcement of the Acting Minister of Customs of the basis on which 1947 import licences are to be granted with any degree of enthusiasm. As the basic allocations are the same as for 1946, the majority of importers will not be able to import any additional quantity of goods, in fact, as licences are based on value, and not quantities, and prices are still ing, the tendency of the past few years for the amount of imports to decrease is likely to continue. General satisfaction has, however, been expressed with the early announcement by the Minister of the 1947 schedules. Last year it was made late in November, and, as the ordering and delivery of imports is a slow business these-days, the late announcement considerably inconvenienced manufacturers. The Associated Chambers of Commerce has for some time been pressing for an.earlier announcement. The grouping of allocations for certain items which has been allowed for next year is also appreciated by those firms to which it refers. The hardware trade has sought such groupings for some time and the permission which has * been granted will facilitate the issue of licences.

' “It might be worse,” was the opinion of one importer, when commenting on the Ministerial statement, “ but at the same time it could be a great deal better. Import control is restricting trade with Britain, which has on offer many lines that we want, but for which licences cannot be-obtained, although it must be admitted that Britain is at present unable to supply us with goods for which we have licences.”