IMPORT BAN

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20078, 26 October 1939, Page 8

IMPORT BAN

THIRD PERIOD LIST THINKING IT OUT POSITION OF FARMERS SUPPLY OF IMPLEMENTS (.Special to the ILi-rahl.) WAIROA. this day. Ir. the few days which have passed since the announcement of the third schedule of import restrictions, Wairoa businessmen have had an opportunity to fully study the new schedules, the long Labour Day week-end giving, as one man , pointed out. a Pit of extra time to ‘'nut it out."

In the larger towns and cities some apprehension has been felt over the

ability of some linns and business-hou.-es being able to retain their full quotas of employees, but it is not expected that this position will greatly affect the smaller provincial towns. Generally, surprise at the sweeping nature of the restrictions for the January to June period of next year is expressed and the restrictions are thought to have been worse than was expected. The absorption of reserve stocks has enabled many firms to meet the majority of the public requirements, but the position is now considerably aggravated. Household Goods Affected

Discussing the positiort to-day, a businessman pointed out that the new restrictions included a variety ot household requirements ranging from sewing-machines to hot-water bottles and including linoleums, gloves, toilet:, requisites and other articles which wouid be in short supply as a result cl the new ban and, in some cases, would disappear entirely from tiie market.

The delay in the issue of the schedule bv the Government was generally strongly criticised, it being claimed that this delay would involve the Dominion in increased costs. While the farmers were urging the limitation of rising costs, the import restrictions were intensifying the position. Had the import lists been available sooner merchants won in have been able to buy at pre-war rates. Position of Farmers Talking to a Herald representative a farmer emphatically declared that production had suffered a severe blow. A long list of farming implements was included in the restricted lists.

“The mechanisation of farming is vitally important at present, more particularly in view of the acute shortage of farm-labour, oeclared the speaker, who added that it was difficult to understand the action ot a Government which had been urging the farmers to increase production. The banned farming lines included cultivators, harrows, ploughs, drills, fertiliser and seed sowers and distributors, and other lines of farming implements. The full demand for goods of this type could not be met bv the product made in New Zealand.