SECRECY RESENTED

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

SECRECY RESENTED

FIRMS IN DILEMMAS

CHRISTCHURCH STATEMENTS

(By Telegraph—Press Association.)

CHRISTCHURCH, January 4.

Keen dissatisfaction with the working of the Government's import control restrictions was expressed this morning by numerous Christchurch importers. The salient features of interviews with several importers are that no import orders have been sent overseas since December 5, and that unemployment of warehouse hands and subsequent cutting down of staffs because of the small quantity of overseas goods arriving are likely.

In the case of metal goods reductions ranging up to 79 per cent, on last year's imports have been imposed, sewing cotton has been cut down by 75 per cent., and in the case of textile piece goods (cotton ana linen), embroidery, and linen patterns, there is a total prohibition.

Importers resent the secrecy and arbitrary nature of the Customs Department's import assessments and its refusal to give reasons for the prohibition or reduction in imports. Complaints will be heard at a special meeting of the Chamber of Commerce in a few days. SEVERE LIMITATION. j "At the moment it looks to me as if we will have to close down. We are practically forced out of business, and a nice New Year present that is," complained a wholesale dealer. He added that he had been limited to 25 per cent, of one section of stocks he formerly carried, and other sections had been completely wiped out. Importa-

tions of sewing cotton had been cut 75 per cent. In his case British textile piece goods in cotton and linen lines had been eliminated. Art embroidery and traced linen lines had been wiped out, and similar lines formerly imported from Germany and France had also been eliminated. Paper transfers from the United Kingdom had been banned.

Another cause for concern was the restrictions placed on_ the importation of special articles required to fill tenders. These lines were not regularly imported, so that if they had not been imported in the previous year they could be included in the quota provided they were off-set against builders' shelf goods, 'thus seriously reducing the necessary stocks.

One importer gave the following instances of how his requests for metal goods (apart from builders' hardware and tools) had been cut down. Imports from the United Kingdom were reduced by 23 per cent, from Australia by 70 per c>-nt., Canada 58£ per cent., United States 79 per cent., and Germany 74|- per cent.