FULL YEAR

Taranaki Daily News, 25 September 1940, Page 3

FULL YEAR

LICENSE PERIOD LITTLE CHANGE MADE MINISTER'S SUMMARY

The basis on which licenses cover - ing. imports during the fifth period are to be issued is the subject of an announcement by the Hon. W. Nash, Minister of Customs. With the exception of one or two items noted in the schedule, licenses are to cover the full year 1941 instead of a half-yearly period as has hitherto been the case. "Careful consideration has been given to this question," stated Mr. Nash, "and while there are certain factors which raise doubts whether the six-monthly period should be maintained, it is thought that the advantages to be gained by adopting the yearly procedure justify that course. 1 am convinced from representations made that this step will be welcomed by irnporters, who will now have a longer time in which to exercise their licenses. No Wide Relaxation. "While the position of overseas funds has shown some improvement, the Government has found it impracticable to make any wide relaxation of the restrictions insofar as imported manufactured goods are concerned, but every endeavour will be made to provide so far as possible for the full requirements of industry in the nature of plant and materials." Among goods which it will be permissible to import in larger quantities are: Gumboots: No restriction on "other British" imports, instead of 25 per cent. Pneumatlc motor tyres: No restriction on "other British" imports, instead of 50 per cent. Chinaware for table use: 25 instead of 50 per cent. restriction on United Kingdom. Sanitaryvearthenware: 25 instead of 50 per cent. on United Kingdom. Engines and parts for motor vehicles: 25 instead of 33 1-3 per cent. on all imports. Electric lamps over 180 watte: No restriction on United Kingdom, instead of 50 per cent. Enamelled holloware: No restriction on United Kingdom, instead of 50 per cent. Finished parts of bicycles: No restriction on United Kingdom, instead of 25 per cent. Parts of motor vehicles: 25 instead of 33 1-3 per cent. on all imports. Further Restrictions. y 1 Among the goods on which further restrictions have been placed there are nine items on which 100 per cent. restrictions applv. These are: Wooden matches; cottcn wool; women's cotton stockings; woven labels and hangers for clothing; wadding; bicycle tyres and tubes; electric lamp bulbs (not exceeding 180 watts); kalsomine, .etc.; clothes pegs. Restrictions have been increased on the following: — Children's socks: 50 per cent. on United Kingdom instead of nil. Hand-knitting yams: 25 per cent. on United Kingdom instead of nil. Bolts and nuts: 100 per cent. on "other British" instead of 50 per cent. Motor-cycles: 75 per cent. on United Kingdom instead of 25 per cent. "Imports in 1938 will again form the basis for the granting. of allocations to individual applicants, although in the case.of industrial materials (which repnesent the bulk of the expenditure) the allocations are generally related to actual requirements without strict regard to previous imports," the Minister stdtcdi * "When releasing the schedule for the fourth period," said Mr. Nash, "I drew attention to the practice which had been adopted by some irnporters of arranging for the importation of goods in anticipation of obtaining a license, and I issued a warning that apart from rendering thernselves liable to the penalties provided under the law, irnporters who were -guilty of such practice also took the risk of the goods being seized. Despite this warning offences of that nature against the regulations are still being brought fo my notice, and I wish it to be understood that more drastic action •will be taken in future regarding such cases. _ Close Control Necessary. "Suggestions have been made that licenses • should : be granted to cover a group of items rather than an individual tariff item. It has been represented that under that procedure an importer would be in a position to exercise his license to better advantage, that is, by importing those goods for which there was the greatest demand and, naturally, those which would give him the best return. This question has been very carefully considered, and while the desirability of allowing as much flexibility as possible in the use of licenses is recognised, it is not considered practicable at the present time, when a close control over . imports is still necessary, to give effect to the suggestion. "The procedure adopted during the fourth period in respect of the granting of "blanket" licenses to the local representatives of overseas suppliers of certain commodities is ' eing continued during the fifth period." Mr. Nash concluded by saying that it was the desire of the Government that the maximum of requirements should be obtained from the United Kingdom. and every endeavour would be made to achieve that purpose. Irnporters generally would, he felt sure, be in full accord with that policy and would cooperate to that end.