IMPORT CONTROL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26618, 14 November 1947, Page 6

IMPORT CONTROL

AUSTRALIAN SYSTEM ESSENTIAL BRITISH GOODS RESTRICTIONS VIRTUALLY REMOVED The Associated Chambers of Commerce has made representations to the Minister of Customs, Mr Nash, in the past urging that import control should be lifted in respect of essential goods in short supply, but has received the answer that it is not possible for the Government to follow this procedure. The Associated Chambers, however, has been making inquiries in Australia recently as to the procedure followed in that country, which has not only found it possible to do what the Associated Chambers suggested for New Zealand, but has been able progressively to reduce the degree of import control exercised. Woollen Piece Goods In a further letter to Mr Nash, the Associated Chambers stated that in correspondence it had had with the Minister of Industries and Commerce concerning the lifting of import control in respect of woollen piece goods (since New Zealand importers were told by the New Zealand Gpvernment that they would have to press for supplies of woollen piece goods from the United Kingdom through normal trade channels to secure a share of the British export quota), Mr Nordmeyer argued that it was still vitally important for the Government to be aware of the total value of overseas funds committed by import licences. The Associated Chambers had pointed out to the Minister that it was not essential for the Government to dispense with such information, and information which it had obtained from Australia regarding that country’s import control system was passed on to Mr Nordmeyer. Further information to hand from Australia which has been forwarded to Mr Nash included a letter from the Sydney Chamber of Commerce to the effect that Australia had virtually abolished import licensing from the United Kingdom, so far as essential goods 1 were concerned. Luxury lines still required licences to be obtained before they could be imported. The policy in Australia was to obtain as great a quantity of essential goods as possible from the United Kingdom, and the reason there had not been excessive importation of goods which did not require licensing was that the goods were not available in Great Britain for purchase by Australia. , . , “ The issuing of licences is always related by the department concerned to the exchange position, and the general over-all policy in this regard is controlled by the Commonwealth Bank,” the Sydney Chamber stated, “ but, so far as the United Kingdom is concerned, it is not a question of exchange or licence control, but one of the ability of the United Kingdom to supply the goods which are required.” Imports from America In the case of imports from “hard” currency countries, such as the United States of America, the licensing system was still in operation, the Sydney Chamber added. There was a period between January and May this year when licences fpr textiles of an essential nature were issued fairly freely, but in May this was considerably tightened up, and only for textiles in very short supply were licences granted. The position of importations from the United States of America and other “hard” currency countries was at present under consideration. Further letters relating to the position in Australia were received from the Melbourne Chamber of Commerce and the Associated Banks (Victoria), copies being forwarded to Mr Nash, who has replied to the .Associated Chambers stating that he will examine the submissions made and also the evidence supplied n its letter.