The Auckland Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News, The Echo and The Sun. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 1940. IMPORT CONTROL.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 228, 25 September 1940, Page 6

The Auckland Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News, The Echo and The Sun.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 1940. IMPORT CONTROL.

For the caute that lacks assistance, For the wrong that reeds resistance, For the futurein the distance, ind the good that tee can do.

Even without a Government-imposed system of import licensing, NewZealand's imports next year would be severely affected, by conditions inseparable from .the war. Some goods are already unobtainable from any source. Practically the whole of the Continent of Europe is no longer accessible, and even if it were accessible could not supply. The main supplier, the United Kingdom, is in the front line of conflict. The operations of its manufacturers for export are liable to be interrupted at any moment by the bombs of the enemy, or even by invasion. In addition, and more important, their operations are subordinate to the war requirements of the United Kingdom Government. When it is remembered also that the same Government is pursuing an economic policy designed to avert calls on dollar funds for any except necessities of war, it can be appreciated that the problems of the New Zealand importer, even without his own Government's restrictions, would be many and perplexing. His constant question would be, "Can I procure what I want to import, at prices which the public can afford to pay?" But, under the New Zealand licensing system, he has to concern himself with the preliminary, all-important question, "Can I get a permit to attempt to import what I want?"

As to the wisdom or justice of specific restrictions, as revealed in the list published yesterday, there can be, and are, many opinions. An attempt by one man, or a group of men, to decide for a whole community what it should and should not import can at best be a hit-or-miss affair. But there is one feature of the restrictions, as explained in Mr. Nash's statement, which may well be the subject of general complaint. That is their rigidity. Extraordinary circumstances arise in war time, such as no importer, and no Government, ean foresee or provide against. The rapid rise in the prices of some articles imposes very great difficulties upon importers. The uncertainties of delivery prejudice the most careful plans. Yet in Wellington sits Mr. Nash, proclaiming, "Allocations cannot be increased," and, "There can be no carry-over from one period to another, except as a charge against fifth-period allocations." Nor will licenses be granted to cover a group of items instead of one item. This inflexible attitude is indicative not of strength 'but rather of obstinacy. The position now is not merely that New Zealand has only a limited amount available for spending upon imports; the position is that the economical expenditure of that limited amount is extremely difficult because of conditions outside the importers' control. Their task is to spend the money to the best advantage of the community and themselves. They know, far better than Mr. Nash, how to do so, and within the framework of * essential restrictions they should be allowed freedom for some discretion and enterprise. Every one of them could point to past experience of the effects of rigidity. Sometimes they themselves have gained by it, but the community as a whole has been the loser.