TREND OF RESTRICTIONS

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 3, 5 January 1939, Page 10

TREND OF RESTRICTIONS

MEN EXPRESS THEIR

VIEWS

Although licences to import goods have not all been issued, importers in Wellington have already discovered that their views of what they require to supply customers do not agree with the views of the licensing authorities. Where requests have been made for the right to import similar types of goods from the United Kingdom and foreign countries, reductions in some cases have been greater on the foreign orders than on British goods, but in other cases little or no distinction has been made.

Importers expected their applications to be cut, and are not greatly concerned at the licences falling below their requests; but they are concerned regarding the importation of goods ordered last . year for current requirements. Such goods" should be importable under special licence, but there is a suggestion that funds may not be available to pay for the goods unless they come under the licences for requirements for the next six months. "If licences now being issued had to be used for goods ordered prior to last December as well as for the requirements'of next summer, one importer stated, the importers would have their business restricted to such an extent ihat staffs would have to be cut in half.

It is not yet known how the licensing system will affect the importation of essentials, such as medical and surgical supplies, not manufactured in New Zealand.