GOODS FROM GERMANY

Otago Witness, Issue 3514, 19 July 1921, Page 6

GOODS FROM GERMANY

WELLINGTON, July 8. Interviewed this aiternoon by your representative regarding the recent official statement which 1 sent you regarding the importation of German goods, the Hon. W. Dowuie Stewart (Minister of Custoiys) said iliaf such goods were, of course, excluded atier the outbreak of war, and from time to time (Jrders-in-Council were passed maintaining the Order-in-Council lor such exclusion. The last Order-in-Council was dated July 26, 1920, and prohibits the importation of goods manufactured in, or produced in, or exported from Germany or Austria, except with the consent of tlio Munster of Customs. The order provides Goods shall be deemed to have been manufactured or produced in Germany or Austria If as much as 5 per centum of the value thereof, a s estimated in accordance with the provisions of the Customs Act, 1913, with respect to goods subject to advalorem duty has its source in Germany or A usti ia. If a Collector of Customs has reason to believe or suspect that any goods imported into New Zealand are goods, the importation whereof is prohibited by ibis Order-in-Council, without the leave of the Minister of Customs, the collector may detain those goods, am! they shall not be delivered from the control of the Customs until the collector is satisfied by such evidence as ho require.* that the good* are not goods, tho importation whereof is hereby prohibited, or the Minister of Customs consents to the importation of those goods, or to the exportation thereof. If (lie invoice for any goods imported into New Zealand from any country contains. or is accompanied by a certificate signed by the exporter to the effect that loss than 5 per coni uni of the fair market value in the country of export of each arriele in its condb iou a- exported has its source in Germany or Ausitia, such certificate shall be accepted by the Collector of Customs as sufficient evidence that the goods are not goods, the importation of which is prohihued within the meaning of this order, unless the < c llc.-ior has reason to believe or suspect that the certificate is false or erroneous. Mr Stewart stated that no doubt the whole question would come under the review of Parliament next session. In the meantime the policy of the country is contained in those Orders-in-Council, which he has no authority to override or ignore.