IMPORT LICENSES

Taranaki Daily News, 25 September 1940, Page 6

IMPORT LICENSES

Although there is no relaxation of import restriction as a whole, the Minister of Customs has made some attempt to make the system work less harshly in the issue of the next series of licenses. They are to apply for a twelve instead -of a sixmonthly period and this should give importers wider . opportunity for adapting their requirements to the limits enforced by the licensing system. Mr. Nash's proposals in this direction would have been more acceptable had they not been accompanied by the qualification that any goods not obtained under previous licenses by December 31 will be deducted from the imports allowable under the new license issue. War conditions make regular deliveries almost impossible, and considerable hardship may be caused by the Minister's ruling to importers who have been unable through no fault of their own to obtain delivery of goods under licenses which will have expired in December. There has been some relaxation in regard to imports of certain speciglised manufactures, and the Minister explains that the basis of the licensing has been to admit first, requirements for war services unobtainable in New Zealand, including requirements for increased farm production. Imports that com'e second in importance are those that are required as plant and material for the development of the Dominion's secondary industries. The third group includes articles of general utility which New Zealand manufacturers are | unahle to supply. Restrlctions have also been increased in certain directions, chiefly as regards imports of goods that are being manufactured in New Zealand, or, such as cotton goods, tor which substitutes can be obtained from Dominion manufacturers. The importation of motor-cars is still prohibited, but there is some relaxation in regard to parts of motor-trucks. Generally speaking the restrictions are smaller upon ;-oods from Great Britain than from elsev/here, and Mr. Nash claims that the schedule of licenses has been framed with the intention of increasing trade with the United Kingdom. This is no doubt correct, but the increased restrictions upon

certain imports from Britain scarcely keep pace with the Minister's intentions.