IMPORT LICENCES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26581, 2 October 1947, Page 6

IMPORT LICENCES

GOODS FROM AMERICA POSITION STILL UNDER REVIEW P.A. WELLINGTON, Oct. 1. The . Associated Chambers of Commerce recently took up with the Minister of Customs, Mr Nash, the question of import licences on America, stating: ‘ Certain of our members have raised the question of American orders placed under currency of the existing import licences but which cannot be delivered before December 31, 1947. It is clear that goods in many categories will be so affected, and with the appeal from Great Britain to conserve dollars it is unlikely that renewals or fresh import licences will be issued in all cases. Having regard to the fact that any widespread cancellation of orders will adversely affect New Zealand’s good name in North America, it is felt that some clarification should be obtained as to the action importers should take." Replying, the Minister states: *’A general review of licences issued for imports from the United States and from Canada is at present being undertaken, as developments during recent weeks have necessitated that our expenditure of dollars be confined within limits of urgent essentiality. “ For, the same reason,” the Minister adds, "it is essential to avoid as far as possible a carry-forward of commitments from one period to another. Imports of goods which do not arrive during the currency of the licences under which they were ordered will, unless there is some circumstance warranting the granting of special provision, become a charge against licences for a subsequent period- during which they are imported. The question of whether special 1948 licences will be granted to cover the importation from America after December 31 of goods which were ordered under 1947 licences can only be considered in relation to the nature of the goods concerned. In the case of essential goods such as specific machines in respect of which an importer does not already hold a 1948 licence under which they can be entered, consideration will be given at the appropriate time to applications for special licences to enable the goods to be entered.” The Comptroller of Customs, replying to other points raised with him by the Associated Chambers, states, “ Licences for goods the orders for which were placed and accepted overseas prior to the review of licences being commenced will be endorsed as approved and, the production to a trading bank of a licence endorsed as approved will enable a remittance authority to be obtained. An endorsement on a licence relates only to the goods covered by such endorsement and any balance on the licence should be the subject of further application for approval. A client should present the licence for endorsement and then forward it to his ‘ buying house,’ which can in turn apply to his trading bank for a remittance. The review applies to licences for 1947 and 1948.’’