Import changes ‘only fiddling’

Press, 11 April 1979, Page 29

Import changes ‘only fiddling’

PA Wellington The import licensing schedule for this financial vear showed only too clearly that the Government had neither the courage not the imagination to make anything more than “fiddling” changes in a system that clearly needed serious overhaul, the Opposition spokesman on trade and industry (Mr Walding) has said. In spite of recent criticism of the import-licens-ing system and the calls by National Party stalwarts for an end to overregulation and control, all the Minister of Trade and Industry (Mr AdamsSchneider) had done was change the coding system and remove six minor items from control. Last month the Minister had said that the release of the schedule would show just how far the Government was prepared to go in reforming the system. Mr Walding said.

“If the Government believes that restructuring of import licensing means removing seasnails and crayfish from controls, then there is certainly a

very wide gap between the Government and the Labour Party,” he said. While Labour believed import control must remain, the party would move the emphasis towards flexible, efficient, and relevant controls and require those holding licences to justify their retention each year.

Labour would also concentrate much more on “end user” licences, where the importer used the goods directly in production and maintain much stricter control on trafficking and manipulation of licences.

“To meet the challenge of the 1980 s we need something better than an import system designed to meet the circumstances of 1938,” Mr Walding said.

The schedule was further evidence that the Government has run out of ideas, initiative, and drive.

“One can only speculate that they think the savage increases in power, bread, milk, butter, and sugar will be offset by this new freedom to import seasnails and crayfish,” Mr Walding said.