IMPROVED FORMULA

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26906, 19 October 1948, Page 4

IMPROVED FORMULA

BASIS FOR LICENCES IMPORTERS’ VIEWS The whole system of import licences was based on unsound premises—it was unwise to base allocations on one year’s trading instead of taking an average of imports over a period of three years at least, said Mr J. G. Jeffery, president of the Otago Importers and Shippers’ Association, when commenting on the new import schedule for 1949. Further, he said, there had been insufficient machinery for precluding unscrupulous importers from submitting incorrect applications, and thus there nad been many abuses. “ The Minister of Customs has now commendably made an endeavour to place the licensing machinery on a sounder basis,” he said. ‘‘Apart from taking the most recent year possible, that is, 1948. he has provided the machinery for allocations, where justified, being based on an average of three years. Had this provision been applicable at the commencement of import licensing, many hardships suffered by some business houses would not have occurred. “ For this earnest endeavour to make the system work a little more smoothly, the Minister is to be commended. The tightening up of the regulations in regard to availability is readily understandable, and must make for more orderly importing. It is pleasing indeed to see that the Government is continuing to give the maximum encouragement possible to the British manufacturer.

“ No importer will be satisfied with whatever licence quotas are allocated to him, but the easement of the present licensing system can only be obtained as a result of further increases of our exports to Britain,” Mr Jeffery added. ‘‘Any measure which can be taken by the Government to encourage primary producers to greater effort will, therefore, be welcome news to all importers.”