ENGINEERING SUPPLIES

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3031, 19 March 1917, Page 6

ENGINEERING SUPPLIES

IMPORT ORDERS UNDER SUPERVISION PROCEDURE EXPLAINED The Hon. Arthur M. Myers, when interviewed in regard to the recent publication in the Now Zealand Gazette referring to engineering supplies, material, and stores, made the following statement:— "During July iast the New Zealand Government was informed that the Ministry of Munitions in the United Kingdom had prohibited the export of any small tools made from high-speed steel or carbon steel, unless permit for export was first obtained from them, and in September we were further advised that the prohibition had been extended to cover also: "Boring cutters, chucks, files, hacksaws, Jathe tools, measuring tools, miTling-outters, reamers, screwing tackle, slitting saws, % thread-milling • hobß. anfl twist' drills. "Accompanying the second notification, was a statement that the Ministry would bo glad to have from the New Zealand Government any comI ments on indents which would assist i them in determining the urgency of orders. i "As a result of the publication of ! these advices in the Dominion, many requests were received for assistance in securing miscellaneous stores and materials of importance which were not j included in the above lists. I found that these miscellaneous _ items were, as necessary for the maintenance of our primary industries and the transport of our products as were the particular lines the Ministry had referred to, and I was of the opinion that many of the applications merited such assistance as the Ministry contemplated affording.. The Government, therefore, 'requested the High Commissioner to approach the Ministry of in regard to the matter, and -permission was obtained from the Ministry to deal with these additional lines in the same way as the others. Since October last many such miscellaneous applications have been dealt with by me, and passed on through the High Commissioner to the Ministry with satisfactory results. '

. "As a result of a conference held in December last, the Ministry of Munitions requested that a local authority he set up in each British Dominion or dependency, which would: (a) Ascertain stocks held; (b) Consider all indents from their respective countries, and (c) Comment as to degree of urgency and importance attaching to each order, from the local point of view. "Tho Ministry further decided that no application for a priority certificate would he considered unless they had before them the comments of the local authority, who, in the case of New Zealand, is the Minister in Charge of Munitions and Supplies. The proposals cover all material and stores required for maintaining the continuity of production, and the means of transport fcr the products of our industries of national importance, and they ako extend to supplies required by all Government Departments v and municipalities. "I thereofore invito all importers, said Mr. Myers, "persons, firms, Government Departments and municipalities, to take advantage of the procedure arranged, by placing themselves in communication with the Munitions and Supplies Department, Union Steam Ship Company's buildings, Wellington, where full particulars can bfc obtained. "Arrangements are being made to deaJ promptly with all order* received, and it will assist tny office and prevent unnecessary delay and disappointment to importers if the instructions on the order forms are closely followed.

'"With regard to engir.eerir>ij supplies," continued Mr. Myers, "the policv adopted by the Imperial Ministry of Munitions in dealing with busine'ss of this nature is that sympathcti& consideration will be given to orders placed to secure supplies for maintenance and repairs of existing plants, but in view of present exigencies, little encouragement, if any, can be given to orders for new enterprises or for the extension of existing concerns, unless such extensions are essential from the point of view of the national welfare. A great many manufacturing establishments in the United Kingdom which in the ordinary course of events devote themselves to export trade, are now directing their entire output to the requirements of the Imperial.Government. Under the circumstances, it is dearly the duty of importers in the British Dominions wherever possible to defer sending orders for olectrical machinery and other equipment until the conclusion of the war—in othor wordsj the establishment of new works requiring machinery of this kind should remain in abeyance."