Heavy Import Cut Being Considered

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30979, 8 February 1966, Page 18

Heavy Import Cut Being Considered

(From Our Own Reporter) WELLINGTON, February 7. A cut of 20 per cent in the volume of goods to be brought into New Zealand in the next licensing year under the import control system is believed to be under consideration by the Government.

It is believed proposals at present before the Minister of Customs (Mr Shelton) for the 1966-67 import schedule call for few, if any, further exemption of items from control, and for the reduction by one-fifth of the quantity of goods permitted entry under the 1965-66 schedule.

licence scheme are said to have resulted from efforts of advisers to work within this figure. The A licence scheme was introduced in the 1962-63 schedule. It provides for importers of some goods under control to be given automatic approval to import up to 75 per cent of the volume they brought into the country the previous year. They may later apply to bring in more goods up to 133 1-3 per cent of the previous year’s quantity. They are required to give evidence of the need for the goods. Unless exceptional circumstances are proved they are not permitted to import goods above this relative percentage. The scheme was introduced in an attempt to ensure continuity of supply without undue stockpiling for such items as sports goods, medical instruments, and some sizes of children’s footwear. In settling on the figure within which its advisers were asked to work, the Government is believed to be influenced by falling overseas prices, marketing uncertainties, and continuing balance of payments difficulties.

The abolition of the A licence importing scheme is also said to have been recommended to the Minister.

year would cost about £293m. He gave the value of goods exempted from control as between £9om and £loom.

The Government is believed to have given its advisers a figure within which to plan for the 1966-67 schedule.

Mr Shelton would not last year place a value on the current schedule, but estimated that total imports for the

The proposals for a reduction in the quantity of goods and abandonment of the A