ESSENTIAL GOODS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3087, 18 May 1917, Page 6

ESSENTIAL GOODS

« OPERATION OF PRIORITY PERMIT SCHEME IMPORTERS MAY EXPECT 1 DIFFICULTIES The Hon. A. M. Myers, Minister of Munitions and Supplies, has received / . most important advice from Jingland re- . jarding the obtaining of certain classes of goods from tho Old Country uuder •tho system of priority permits established by the British Ministry of Munitions. Mr. Myers, conveying the information I to a reporter, 6aid that- the information led him to be apprehensive of difficulties in the future in obtaining certain supplies. Recently the High Commissioner had reluctantly reported that tho Ministry of Munitions had definitely refused to grant permits to allow tho manufacture of several important New Zealand orders. This n'ows is a matter for regret front a New Zealand point of ■view, but the position must nevertheless )ba faced in the light of existing war conditions and the consequent enormous ■demands mado by the-War Office and ihe Admiralty on British manufacturers. "It is well known now," said Mr. ilyors, "by the business community, manufacturers, and' Government Departments throughout the Dominion that the Government, at the request of the Ministry of Munitions in tho United Kingdom, recently authorised me as Minister in Charge of Munitions and Supplies, to 1 act as a local authority in New Zealand, Sfor the purpose of giving certificates on New Zealand orders from the Dominion jpoint of view. Since the inception of this organisation many orders have been bo certified to,, and the High Commissioner was also requested to facilitate ' natters as far as possible. In a number of cases the efforts of my Department ond that of the High Commissioner in London have been productive of very satisfactory results. I regret to announce_ the grave possibility of these beneficial activities being considerably ■restricted by Tne conditions which, from reports received, undoubtedly now prevail in. Tegard to certain lines. The position generally, however, may be indicated by the fact that the llinister of Munitions las taken a firm stand in regard .to stocks of all commodities containing metals which are usually' exported from the United Kingdom to iNew Zealand, and which are now wanted there for munitions and other 11a;tional purposes. The attitude of the ■ .'Ministry amounts to this, they refuse to grant a permit to manufacture in ' '-favour of 'A' whilst his neighbour 'B' '.in New Zealand holds stocks of the lines •*A.' desires to seoure. This matter is • - leading me to obtain, a general idea of stocks which are held in the Dominion in some of the important lines to which my attention has been specially direoted. .1 trust the officials deputed to attend :to the collection of the desired information will be fully assisted by the com-' mercial community, so as to enable these ipartioulars to be promptly and accurately icompiled, , "Then, again," said Mr. Myers, "the 'Ministry of Munitions has given us to definitely that under no consideration. can plant for the extension of : "businesses or ordinary commercial enterprises be favourably considered. The aim of the Ministry apparently i 9 to provide ■from tho limited quantity of some materials available sufficient to maintain continuity of operations in essential indus■tries, that is, apart altogether from niaitorials for munitions. Precedence is, of .course, taken by work directly necessary for the prosecution of the war, and only in this connection are developments permitted. I am informed the equipment of new; works and extensions of existing works will receive scanty sympathy from the Ministry, and several notable instances of this-Tuling have been brought /before my . notice.

"From the foregoing I trust it will -be appreciated, that I have a duty to discharge in discouraging certain types of applications until such time as conditions are more favourable.

"It would probably bo detrimental to I the best interests of New Zealand if business men were permitted to embark on commercial enterprises without having due regard to the possibility of having their activities wrested or restricted owing to' the conditions which obtain in the United Kingdom in regard to secursupplies. I will, therefore,- shortly indicate the approximate position in connection with, several lines in particular: ''No Applies for constructional work are : likely to be manufactured except from shell discard steel. This also applies to steel hoops for wool dumping and . for tallow casks. However, in this connection I have requested the High Commissioner to have tests made in England to prove, as. far as is possible, tho safety of such hoops for wool dumping. "Tin Plates, Black Plates, and Terne Plates: None of these supplies are being allowed- for export unless for specific purposes connected with war interests. . No tin. plate is likely to be allowed for the packing of tobacco and cigarettes even for the Army.. "There is little likelihood of galvanised or black oorrugated or plain sheeting • being made available for export. ■ The position with regard 'to steel wire is not easy. In the case of hard wire there is 'more scarcity than in the case of soft wire. Transport and industrial users of wire ropes are therefore requested by the Ministry to endeavour to splice the existing ropes, and not to count upon having any in stock as stand-by. ' Sted Plates: These are practically unobtainable for industrial ' purposes, . and every makeshift must, therefore, o® Tesorted to in the case of tanks «mt. j boilers requiring plates. -The demand for steel shafting makes it practically impossible for the Ministry to permit steel shafting to be ■ exported for some time to come. • Copper, brass, and other copper alloys are only obtainable for work of es6ential war importance, and then only when no other material cau be substituted. In the United Kingdom at_ present iron, lead, and zinc are ■being used whore previously copper and brass were employed. Applicants for copper and brass are, therefore, being requested by the Ministry to prove that no other material can be substituted; and I must, therefore, call upon New Zealand indentors to prove likewise before I can send on their orders. "Mines: As regards 'supplies for mines; J it may be mentioned that the policy adopted in England is to refuse steel for headgear, it being considered that timber can be used instead. New screens and washeries are not given any priority certificates at present, unless a very strong case oan bo. mado out for their sup- ' ply. Steel is refused for mine tubes, the uso of. wooden bodies with wrought iron bottoms being advised. Tub axles must be taken in shell discard steel. No new plant or machinery or plant or machinery for ■ opening of new mines or 6eams is being allowed. Demands for cyanide for gold mines must be reduccd to a minimum. ''Textiles: No new plant for the production of textiles is likely to be permitted, at least for some considerable time to come. "Electrical Machines: No plant is avaii- . able for ordinary industrial purposes. Large and important schemes of electrification, both in the United Kingdom and in the Dominions, have been postponed until after the war. Telephone apparatus and material aTB also scarce, and telephone extensions for the General Post Office in the 'United Kingdom and ordinary commercial purposes havo had to be postponed meantime. "Agricultural Implements: The manufacture of agricultural implements for export is, for the present, being discouraged. Agricultural tools are generally allowed in shell discard steel. Sugar and rubber tools are' also being made in the same quality steel. "Leather: The manufacture of leather and balata for other than urgent , war woTk is practically forbidden. '/Rivets, Boltsl. elte.: The holding of stock's of rivets, bolt-s, nuts, screws, small tools, etc., is being discouraged and no permits are granted for replacements for stock purposes. "Brass Sorews: Permits for tho manufacture of brass screws, except for . -gun and ammunition purposes, aTe being refused