PRESENT SHORTAGES OF GOODS

Chronicle (Levin), 9 August 1946, Page 7

PRESENT SHORTAGES OF GOODS

-Press .. Association

WHO DECIDES IMPORT FERMITS ?

By Telegravh ~

M'KLKINGTON, Aug. 8. Further explanations of- the' systeiii of import licenciug w'ere given to the House of Representatives by the Minister of Finance (Mr. Nash). Import .licences for 1947 could be applied foi now, and if the goods were essential to the Hominion's welfare, the permits could be issued,. said Mr. Nash. " Wlio decides it?" asked an Op position niember. Tlie Minister replied tiiat this was done by committees and the Hepar'tments wliich went into the question ot wluit the Dominion needed. ' ' They don 't knoAV that, ' ' declared the Leader of the OpposLtion (Mr. llolland). The Minister replied that they-had a gootl idea, but tlie Leader of the Oppositiou apparently wanted t6 substitute supply and demand for tlie best system the country could havo. They could not allow everybody to deterinine what sliould be imported,- and thus bring in goods whether they were wantj ed or not. I Replying to a question from Alr. W. J. Polson (ytratford), Mr. Nash said that licences were not issued ad lib to anyone. it would be unfair to forbiu an importor to iinport as many vehieles as he forinerly did in order to give Isomeone else wlio had not forinerly imported a right to bring in motors. They i , had to be fair, but at the same time provision was made for bringing in neft goods. He was familiar with tlie i harge made by Mr. Watts that goods ceased to become available from overseas because licences were delayed. .Many of tliese charges had been exaniiifed, and they could not be susj tained. Permits were not issued for 1 goods wliich were not available. The | Department oflen asked applicants to J prove that the goods could be obtauied, ; | and if so, Ihe ponui f was issued. j | Alr. Uolland: 1 wili prove oue case toi j the contrary — a periiiit for carpet- 1 jsweepers wliich are not. made here. The Minister replied that he had an ! I applieation from a (irm whicli desired I ' to import £90,000 worth of tliese goods. : The poi n t was that carpet-sweepers i were being made in Christchurch and Wellington, and to the extent that tlie jdcnmnd could not be supplied from New Zealand Jabour and material, the import ! permits were issued.