“GROWING DESPERATE"

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 244, 16 October 1939, Page 11

“GROWING DESPERATE"

STOCKS OF GOODS AND RAW MATERIALS VERY LOW EFFECT OF IMPORT RESTRICTIONS EARLY REMOVAL ADVOCATED [ Per Press Association ] WELLINGTON, Oct. 14. Having regard to available funds New Zealand should stock to the limit with all classes of United Kingdom goods, stated a report issued by the United Kingdom Manufacturers and New Zealand Representatives’ Alsociation yesterday. In commenting that licences for the importation of goods in 1940 had not yet been issued, the association said it was appreciated that the war had considerably altered the position and some de.ay had been inevitable. Nonetheless the situation in regard to import licences for 1940 was getting desperate, the association proceeded. In the ordinary course of events orders would have now been accepted from merchants in New Zealand and the goods actually shipped from the United Kingdom for next year’s requirements. In many cases it was necessary to order some classes of goods up to eight months in advance of delivery to allow time for manufacture and shipping. The United Kingdom was determined at present to keep its existing trade going and was ready and willing to fulfil orders. Stocks of many classes of goods in New Zealand, were running low, and raw materials were getting short, but orders would not be sent Home because importers did not know what classes of goods would be allowed in. They should be now filling their warehouses to the roofs. Opportune Time. It appeared that the time was opportune for a complete removal of the ■ present regulations insofar as they affected the United Kingdom—ships should come out from the United Kingdom full of goods and go back full of produce. The association knew that the Government was endeavouring to arrive at an early decision in regard to the basis of allocations ot licences of 1940, but the position was now one of the greatest urgency. Factories in the United Kingdom must be kept going, and it was vitally essential that New Zealand merchants should be able to order immediately their requirements for 1940 otherwise the wholesale and retail trade and manufacturing industries of New Zealand would come to a standstill and the buying public would find that there was a greater shortage of many classes of everyday commodities. Factories in New Zealand would be running short of raw materials. Unemployment in wholesale, retail and manufacturing staffs would increase to an alarming extent if there were no goods to sell or raw materials to manufacture. “We know of cases,” the statement continues, “where agents of United Kingdom manufacturers have to refuse orders which their factories could fulfil immediately, because no licences have been issued. The position must be remedied now before it is too late, otherwise New Zealand will be faced with the grave position of empty warehouses and factories.’’ The association added that it was in close touch with the export trade of the United Kingdom. Manufactures there were ready to co-operate in every possible way, but they must have orders to keep the factories going, and also sufficient notice to put orders in hand under the present wari time conditions.