PENALISED

Evening Star, Issue 23692, 27 September 1940, Page 6

PENALISED

FOREIGN COUNTRY TRADERS CHANGE OF SOURCE DENIED IMPORTERS “ They are as bad as expected, and worse in many cases,” said a Dunedin importer this morning when discussing the fifth period schedules with the ‘ Star.’ “ One of the worst features is the penalising of houses which hare built up a big trade with countries outside the British Empire, which stand a good chance of going out of business altogether, whereas the man who has had comparatively small dealings with Empire countries is granted his licenses, and there are no 100 per cent. cuts. “ We might have had a big import figure in 1938 from a foreign country, but when licenses are being allocated the man who has, had a much smaller business with the United Kingdom is given preference. We are not permitted to change our spurce of importation and so have something with which to trade. We are starved altogether;” Another point of contention hinged upon the fact that increased costs cut down the quantity of goods imported, but used up the full value of the licenses. This naturally meant that there was a smaller quantity of goods coming into the country. “But Mr Nash says that import figures are keeping up, and the heed for further restriction is still pressing. How does he reconcile this with the fact that almost every line of importation has been cut down to some extent—some more drastically than others? Rising costs have lessened the amount of goods, but cannot by any stretch of imagination be offset against the. amount of cuts over the past years. Who, then, is importing the remainder of goods representing the difference? Can it be the Government?’

“ Consider the number of lines that must be referred to the Government for a decision. We don’t know where we are with them, and we won’t for a long time. The last period brought in control of metal imports by the Minister; now it looks as if he’s going into the canned goods trade, too. We apply for licenses, write about them, send telegrams. or telephone for information—and when we do get it we almost have hysterics. There is no future in this business,” he concluded. “It’s just flogging a dead horse to tfy to get anywhere. The old proverb about not lettng your left hand know what your right is doing is not in it; the Government tells yon what to do with your right hand and your left, too.”