SHORTAGE OF BALLS

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31079, 7 June 1966, Page 11

SHORTAGE OF BALLS

Record Issue Of Licences (MX rre»« Aooeiation) WELLINGTON June 6. It was Incorrect to say that the Customs Department did not honour the 1965-66 licensing schedule, the Minister of Customs (Mr Shelton) said, commenting on a report that table tennis bails would not be available for championship P*«y. “Al! importers who complied with the criteria set out in the schedule received 133 1/3 per eent of previous licences and the total value of licences issued in the current period is the highest on record,” Mr Shelton said. Mr Shelton said licences covered all sporting balls and if table tonnis balls were short, it would be because importers had diverted the extra licence availability to other types of balls. The Minister received a deputation from the Sports Goods Industries Association the day before the report was published to discuss imports of sporting balls. No member of the deputation had mentioned the situation now disclosed, he said. “I am surprised and also disappointed that misleading statements should be given to the press when the association knows full well that discussion of its problems with me or with my departmental officers has never been denied it,” he said. “Nevertheless I shall arrange for my department to investigate and to let me know what can be done to assist the table tennis association.”