IMPORT LICENCES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27513, 6 October 1950, Page 10

IMPORT LICENCES

Record Value Of 1950 Issue PA WELLINGTON, Oct. 5. The value of the import licences issued for 1950 was considerably greater than for any previous year, and an endeavour had been made to ensure that the full requirements of raw materials had been provided for, said the Minister of Customs Mr Bowden, today. He was replying to a recent statement by Mr J. R. Don, the secretary of the Auckland Manufacturers’ Association, who claimed that there was an almost complete embargo on the additional licences for 1950, and on the use of the 1951 licences before the end of this year. Mr Bowden said that if any manufacturer found that further supplies were required, consideration would be given to an application for an additional licence for 1950, or for permission to use the 1951 licence before the end of this year. The Minister said that Mr Don was correct in saying that an amount of overseas funds had been allocated for each item, but the allocation was not rigid, as it was realised that with the increase in overseas prices in such lines as, for example, woollen textiles, additional funds might have to be allocated It should be realised, however, that in making these additional allocations, regard must be had to the necessity of keeping our expenditure within the limit of disposable overseas funds, the Minister said. It must also not be overlooked that as from January 1, 1951, a large range of materials required by manufacturers will be completely free from import control, if from the United Kingdom and soft currency sources.”