TO OPERATE SYSTEM

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27093, 30 May 1949, Page 6

TO OPERATE SYSTEM

“ARMY OF WORKERS NEEDED” “ Bureaucracy berserk ” was the description applied by a Dunedin business man to the present import licensing scheme. He said he agreed with Mr Wilson that a change was overdue, but added that “ he would not like to be in Mr Wilson’s shoes” after making such a statement.

“ The import licensing system is a maze of complicated and nonsensical detail,” the business man said, “ but it is a brainchild of bureaucracy, and as such it is sacred. Those in authority, however, are not content with burdening the business community with this monstrosity only. They must go on, further confounding confusion, with various memoranda on the- numerous items. Surely nothing short of an army of workers must be engaged to keep this bureaucratic system operating.” Items from the memoranda, which the business man said were typical, were quoted by him. “ Special licences, granted for the importation of artists’ materials, are to be noted to the effect that they are not available for the importation of children’s paint sets,” stated one recent memorandum. “ Complaints have been made that electric condensers are being imported under licences granted in respect to tariff item 338 (4). Attention is again drawn to the fact that such goods are included in tariff item 338 (2), and cannot be imported under licences granted in respect of other items.” Then again, “Future licences granted for the importation of aluminium roofing sheet are to be noted to the effect that they are available only for imports of types which comply with the New Zealand standard or British standard specification.” When Mr Wilson said that some modified scheme was necessary, he was certainly not saying anything out of place, the business man concluded.