IMPORTS FROM U.S.A.

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 218, 10 June 1943, Page 3

IMPORTS FROM U.S.A.

Programme Information Required

NEW LICENSING SYSTEM

Details of a development affecting all New Zealand importers of goods from the United States of America were given yesterday by the Minister of Supply and Munitions, Mr. Sullivan, who outlined procedure whereby the Ministry of Supply will collect and co-ordinate programme, information required by the U.S.A, authorities and the various combined boards in Washington. He said that the procedure did not change existing methods of procurement by New Zealand or affect any procedure connected with the import licensing system. “The Government has been advised that export release of goods from the United States of America will in future be dependent on the prior establishment in Washington of forward programme information covering nil our needs, irrespective of whether procurement is carried out in terms of lend-lease,.Govern-ment purchase, or private ordering, the Minister said. . , “This situation has arisen from the adoption by the War Production Board and the Board of Economic Warfare in Washington of a new export programme licensing system which will replace previous export release certificates in various forms, including the recently-extended general licence privileges granted Jxew Zealand. The adoption of this system makes it imperative for steps to be taken immediately in New Zealand to ensure that every single requirement from the United States is included in the overall programme submitted to ashington, with the possible exception of a small category for unprogrammed non-critical items. ... • -« • “The position now is that manufacturers in the United States cannot schedule orders for production till after receipt of a manufacturing priority ana the application for a priority cannot be lodged with the War Production Board unless there is sufficient provision in Zealand programmes for the issuance of an export licence. This means that noninclusion of items in the programme will preclude either manufacture of the goods required or the issue of an export release certificate. The main concern of alt importers, therefore, is to see that their importations, whether now on order or to be ordered, are adequately covered, and to enable such importations to be taken care of, the following procedure has been instituted through the Ministry of Supply for the benefit of importers. It should be carefully noted that this procedure applies only to the commodities specified in a printed list which will be made available together with programme forms in the manner detailed below. This arises frffin the fact that programming is already under way for- many commodities either through trade organizations or some other procedure with which importers are already acquainted. “(1) Programme forms have 'been designed: and are available together with a printed commodity Jist and explanatory statement at the offices of Collectors of Customs throughout New Zealand also at the post offices at Thames aud Hamilton. Limited supplies will also be available through the offices of the Manufacturers’ Federation, chambers of commerce, Bureau of Importers and district offices of the Department of Industries and' Commerce. (2) All holders of import licences or their agents or those who have placed orders through the Government should complete, these forms and post to the Ministry of (Supply not later than Monday. June 21, 1943. (3) The receipt of completed application forms will Ibe acknowledged by the Ministry. “It is imperative,” added the Minister, “that the programme information should be in the hands of the Ministry not later than the date nominated, as already the new programme licence system .applies to most of the commodities, required by this country from the United States. While I appreciate the extra burden thrust on importers generally by this fresh demand, I know it will be realized that the procedure is rendered, necessary only by overseas conditions related directly to war emergency measures. It has been clearly intimated by the overseas authorities that speedy compliance with this request is essential not only to ensure that'New Zealand is adequately covered for essential requirements, but also to ensure that production may lie planned in the best interests of the United Nations’ war effort. I know that this intimation will be sufficient inducement to the New Zealand importers to co-operate fully in the scheme.”