THE MANUFACTURERS

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

THE MANUFACTURERS

TOO SOON TO COMMENT

PERMITS NOT YET RECEIVED

"To date very few licences have been issued in Wellington," said Mr. H. H. Higgins, president of th' Wellington Manufacturers' Association "At present it appears that the r*jtriction on imports will be in the interests of local manufacturers, but until the full effect of the restrictions is revealed by the issue of or refusal to issue, permits, any comment would be premature. It is to be sincerely hoped that Government control will operate for the benefit of local manufacturers."

A Wellington manufacturer whose importations are confined solely to raw materials said that an obvious state of confusion existed in the operation of the regulations at present. In his own case he had received this week a circular letter informing him that the materials he desired to import were prohibited, and this was followed by signed permits for the goods required. "MAKING A FOOL OF THE REGULATIONS." , A Wellington clothing'manufacturer, who imports a considerable quantity t>f raw materials, said some importers had told him that, anticipating that their orders *would, be cut down, they had applied for as much as twice their | normal requirements. Action of that sort was merely making a fool of the regulations, which had obviously been necessary in the circumstances. Hej had asked for the quantity of raw! materials that he thought he could use and not for anything more. Although his own permits had not yet come to hand he did not think that the Government contemplated any restriction that would embarrass the clothing trade, because, some months ago a confidential inquiry was instituted asking manufacturers what additional supplies of raw materials they would require to meet any shortage resulting from restriction of imports. Another clothing manufacturer said he had not yet received any reply to his application for permits and could not therefore comment at this stage. His firm imported linings, sewings, and buttons, none of which could be obtained in New Zealand, and if entry into New Zealand of any of those goods was restricted it would reduce the output of New Zealand factories. SMALL DEALERS' PROBLEM. An importer of books and manufactured stationery said he had not yet received any reply to his application for. a. permit, out it was obvious that under the new system many small retailers who had hitherto been able to indent books in small quantities, would suffer. Because of the small sums involved in individual cases the Wellington firn\ had undertaken collection of the amounts, but that no longer be possible because the various amounts would together total more than the firm would be permitted to remit. Already letters had been received from publishers asking for advice regarding the dispatch of books to New Zealand. Referring to the paint manufacturing j side of his business, Mr. L. H. Tingey said he had not yet received any intimation from the Customs Department about his application for a licence to import his usual requirements of raw materials, but he did not anticipate any difficulty. New Zealand paint manufacturers could easily supply the whole of. the Dominion's requirements, and prohibition of the importation of manufactured paint should not in any way affect the retail price of paint in New Zealand. Other factors might cause prices to rise, but prohibition of manufactured imports would not be one of them.

"In the event of total prohibition of the importation of baths New Zealand manufacturers should have no difficulty in filling the whole of the Dominion'? local requirements," said Mr. E. D. Little, director of a Wellington firm of bath manufacturers. Mr. Little said that his firm had so far received permits to import some of its raw materials, but had still to be notified regarding others. He_ did not think that any New Zealand manufacturer need fear restriction of his supply of raw materials from abroad because if that were done it would inevitably cause a reduction in local manufactures and men would have to be dismissed.

Mr. Little added that he saw no reason why removal of baths from the lists of goods that could be imported should affect the retail price in New Zealand, except for changes in the cost of imported raw materials.