RETARDING TRADE.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume II, Issue 593, 4 January 1916, Page 8

RETARDING TRADE.

INTERPRETATION OF REGULATIONS. HEAD TOO LITERALLY. I'ress Association. WELLINGTON, January 3. The curious position that has amen in connection with the British embargo on the exportation of certain pharmaceutical lines was referred to by a Wellington chemist in conversation with a. reporter. He stated that when a shortage of certain lines occurred the Home authorities passed Customs regulations which were evidently moaut to be used with a'little judgment and common-sense, but, tike many such regulations, were taken too literally, with the result that importers in the various Dominions were being seriously inconvenienced. lie produced a copy of the "Chemist and Druggist," in which the matter is summed up as follows: —■ '' Since the prohibition of the exportation of certain goods from the United Kingdom was begun under war conditions 15 months ago, no greater trouble has been caused thau there has 'been during the past 10 days, consequent upon the Customs authorities (under Government orders doubtless), requiring exporters to toll them whether or not the goods contain any prohibited article —in short, whether they are or are not what chemists and druggists know as admixtures or preparations. For example, blue-black ink in a consignment of stationery holds up the whole parcel because the Customs want the consignor to tell whether or not the ink contains a dye. If it does the ink cannot bo exported because, according to the Customs or those who instruct thorn, it contaius dye, and dye is manufactured from coal tar products. That is the entry on the prohibited list. The significance of this interpretation begins to be specially felt in the drug business, when exporters of medicines were asked for by Customs officials last week if proprietary medicines which they desired to ship contained any prohibited articles. Nobody can tell them but the makers, and a glance at a long list of medical substances which are on the prohibited list will show the stupendous responsibility the authorities are placing on exporters." The far-reaching effect of these regulations, saiii the chemist, would be readily understood if they caused the diversion of the trade of the Dominions into foreign channels. Already the Japanese and Americans were reaping a harvest, and instead of the Dominions being able to help in the trade of the Motherland in the present time of stress, the literal reading of the regulations was having just the' opposite effect.