CONCESSION BY MINISTER

Southland Times, Issue 23716, 14 January 1939, Page 6

CONCESSION BY MINISTER

ORDERS FOR SECOND SIX MONTHS IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION FOR URGENT GOODS (United Press Association) AUCKLAND, January 13. Advice of a concession in the granting of import licences for the second half of the year was received by the Bureau of Importers today in a- telegram from the Minister of Customs (the Hon. W. Nash) stating that the procedure for the import quotas in the second half of 1939 was at present being determined. Mr Nash added that applications which justified early granting of licences for the latter six monthly period of the year would be considered by the Government as urgent and would be granted if circumstances warranted. The telegram was in reply to one from the bureau seeking a list of British Empire and foreign goods prohibited, restricted and unaffected by the licensing regulation. Mr Nash said that information as to the allocation of imports was made available to each importer on making application for a licence. No general information was available in the meantime. A telegram has been sent thanking the Minister for his reply and asking him to nominate a definite date on which he would meet all importers in conference in Wellington. The president of the bureau (Mr W. A. Boucher) said that the decision to consider granting licences for the second half of the year was a small step forward. It remained to be seen, however, how much attached to the proviso “if circumstances warranted.” Neither this question nor the situation as a whole were clarified as they should be by the Minister’s reply. Business could not go on under the present conditions. The secretary of the bureau (Mr R. M. Barker) said the booking of orders for delivery from July onward by soft goods firms and others whp normally made such bookings at this time of the year had been brought to a standstill in recent weeks. The interruption had created difficulties and valuable time had been lost, but if the applications were dealt with quickly importing firms would be assisted in meeting the position. No time would be lost in preparing applications to import essential goods in the second half of the year. An executive of a big department store said that the va|ue of the concession depended on what the Government classed as urgent. In the case of agents handling only a few lines it might be of value, but isolated cases would be of little value to a big general business. His concern now wanted to order all its requirements for the second half of the year and should really make application for every line to be treated as urgent. In his view the whole system should be put six months forward.

SMALLER IMPORTS THAN LAST YEAR e PERCENTAGES QUOTED BY MERCHANT (United Press Association) WELLINGTON, January 13. The New Zealand Importers’ Federation and United Kingdom manufacturers’ New Zealand representatives are collaborating with the Associated Climbers of Commerce of New Zealand in calling a conference to be held in Wellington to discuss the import regulations. It is expected that arrangements will be made within a few s days. An importer of wines and spirits-to-day gave -the following approximate figures showing the extent to which his imports had been reduced, compared with those for the first half of last year: Spirits, whatever country of origin, 33 1-3 per cent. South African wines 55 per cent. French wines 64 per cent. German wines 63 per cent. Australian wines 55 per cent. British ales and stouts 65 per cent.

Australian lager, licence refused. He added that the reduction in business would probably necessitate a curtailment of his staff. Licences issued to tea importers so far indicate that no restriction is being placed on that commodity other than that individual importers are being limited to the quantity they imported during the first half of last year. Some manufacturers complain that, acting on an assurance that there would be no undue restriction of imports of raw materials, they have sent orders overseas but that banks in London are not prepared to allow shipment until they have a cabled certificate that licences have actually been issued. In the meantime these licences have not been issued. Representations have been made to the Minister of Finance (the lion. W. Nash). It is reported that some overseas manufacturers are contemplating the establishment of factories in New Zealand but confirmation of this cannot yet be obtained.