RETARDING TRADE.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 January 1916, Page 5

RETARDING TRADE.

INTERPRETATION OF REGULATION. READ TOO LITERALLY. Wellington, Jan. 3. The curious position that has arisen in connection with the British embargo on the exportation of certain pharmaceutical lines was referred to by a Wellington chemist in conversation with a reporter. He stated that when a shortage of certain lines occurred the Home authorities passed Customs regulations which were evidently meant to be used with a litth' judgment and commonsense, but, like many such regulations, were taken too literally, with the result that importers in the various Dominions wore being seriously inconvenienced. He produced a copy of the Chemist and Druggist, in which the matter is summed up as follows:

"Since the prohibition of thß eivottation of certain goods from the United Kingdom was begun under war conditions 15 months ago, no greater trouble has been caused than there has been during the past 10 days, consequent upon the Customs authorities (under Government orders doubtless), requiring exporters to tell them whether or n'ot the goods contain any prohibited article—in short, whether they are or are not what chemists and druggists know as admixtures or preparations. For example, blue-black ink in a consignment of stationery holds up the whole parcel because the Customs want the consignor to tell whether or not the ink contains a dye. If it does the ink cannot be exported because, according to the Customs or those who instruct them, it eontains dye, and dye is manufactured from coal tar produots. That is the entry on the prohibited list. The significance of this intepretation begins to be specially felt in the drug business, when exporters of medicines were asked by the Customs officials last week if proprietary medicines which they desired, to ship contained any prohibited article*. Nobody can tell them but the makers? and a glance at a long list of medical substances which are on the prohibited list will show the stupendous responsibility the authorities are placing on exporters." The far-reaching effect of these regulations, said the chemist, would be readily understood if they caused the , diversion of the trade of the Dominion* into foreign channels. Already tke Japanese and Americans were reaping a,' harvest, and instead of the Dominions. being able to help in the trade of tt» Motherland in the present timo.of streti, the literal reading of the leuuUtigge WjH'