BRITISH GOODS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3050, 11 April 1917, Page 4

BRITISH GOODS

THE 'CONDITIONS OF. IMPORT.

The institution of a system of- e±J port licenses in the United Kingdom appears to have created misapprehension among some-importers in New Zealand. An. impression has got abroad that goods cannot be procured from _the United Kingdom- unless the buyer, has; secured a certificate of urgency.' Td\i. condition■•' applies to Borne articles, .but* it is ■ not r general,- and importers who misunderstand the situation may -make the mistake of giving to foreigners orders that would bei welcomed by mannfacturers in the United Kingdom. "It should.be clearly by; buyers in New Zealand that though there are some British industries that have their attention N concentrated .on , i war orders, there are other; industries: that are well able to supply ordinary- : trade requirements," said His Ma* \ iesty's Trade Commissioner (Mr. R. W.i Dalton) yesterday. "These, indnstfiee' employ female labour or-labour that is ineligible either for active service or for munition work. Evea in the trades which are,engaged_ in essential, work, such as the production of munitions, it is -remarkable to what extent ordinary trade -ie .maintained. .It would be regrettable if orders were diverted from the -United-Kingdom owing to .any misunderstanding on. .-these ■points.' . ■n ■ "I find there is a good deal of doubt; in the minds of some traders as to whether they C3n in fact get any. goods from the United Kingdom. They appear to think that it is necessary to get 'authorisation of "urgency in all cases. But as the Minister of Munitions has pointed out, this is not the case. The authorisation applies only 'to certain lines. The .trade figures are evidence of what the British manu-c ; facturer can .do under war conditions,: and I should be sorry if the difficulties! of_.the British .manufacturer were in-; creased by doubts in the minds of bay-' ers as to the ability of the UnitedKingdom to supply goods. The Unit-', ed Kingdom is able to fill orders fon' most of the manufactured articles thati' come to New Zealand, in spite of tha; enormous demands' of the war ' ser- i vices."