MEDIGAL SUPPLIES

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

MEDIGAL SUPPLIES

BIG JOB OF LISTING

Although medical and dental supplies were essential to public health import licences had to be secured before supplies could be ordered, the manager of Kempthorne, Prosser, and Co. told "The Post." Drugs and appliances could not be manufactured in New Zealand and as there were thousands of different items the task of preparing a schedule for licensing purposes was a stupendous one. Practically the whole of his staff was working overtime on requirements for the

next six months but another fortnight would pass "before applications for licences could be lodged.

Approximately 97 per cent, of the drugs imported into New Zealand were obtained from Great Britain, the manager said, and he did not anticipate any restrictions on requirements because the imports were essential to the health of the people of New Zealand. Surgical and dental appliances were imported from Great Britain and America, but again it appeared certain that requirements would have to be allowed into the Dominion as they could not be produced here.

It was impossible to secure any official statement to the effect that supplies would not be rationed, the manager added, but he had secured a provisional licence to import certain essential goods which he had ordered by air mail.