"LOOPHOLE LEFT"

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 155, 29 December 1938, Page 10

"LOOPHOLE LEFT"

IMPORT CONTROL

MAIL ORDER BUSINESS

"In framing the recently announced import regulations, the Government has left a loophole which may easily nullify the whole intention of the proposed restrictions, and that is tht provision permitting anyone to import goods for his own. personal use to the value of £10," said a-Wellington manufacturer in an interview with "The Post" today.

"It is certain that when overseas mail order firms notice that provision they will immediately flood New Zealand with catalogues and people acting individually could easily make overseas purchases that would amount to a total sufficient to seriously imperil the Dominion's London, balances.

"One would have thought that the comparatively recent experience • with the cash on delivery system would, have been a sufficient warning of the danger inherent -in the new provision. New Zealand traders investigated the cash on delivery system before the successful move was made to have it abolished. It was found that thousands and thousands of parcels were coming to New Zealand from overseas, and that the Post Office in this country was acting as a collecting agent for the consignors.

"It is possible that people in this country would find it a little cheaper to import their requirements from abroad rather than buy them locally, and if that happened to be the case, it would quickly provide a strong impetus to buying from overseas firms.