CONTROL OF IMPORTS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 December 1938, Page 7

CONTROL OF IMPORTS

THE ADMISSION OF GOODS UNDER LICENCE

MINISTER’S EXPLANATION. ARRANGEMENTS AT PORTS. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. The arrangements made for the licensing of imports were further discussed by the Minister of Finance, Mr Nash, in a statement issued yesterday. He said it had been decided to admit under licence any goods ordered on or before December 5 shipped after December. 31, provided the quantities imported by any one importer were not abnormal. In connexion with this dispensation it would be necessary for importers to supply forthwith to the Collector of Customs at the port of intended importation of the goods copies or particulars of all orders for goods not yet imported. The position, therefore, said Mr Nash, was as follows:— (a) Goods which had left the exporting country and were on board ship for export to New Zealand on December 5 will be admitted without licence.

(b) Goods which were ordered prior to December 5 and which are imported into New Zealand not later than December 31 will be admitted without licence.

(c) Goods which were ordered on or before December 5 and which are imported after December 31 will be admitted' under licence subject to compliance with the conditions set out above. ORDERS AND QUOTA. “Any goods imported after'December 31 will be included in any quota granted under licence to an importer,” said Mr Nash, “and any application made by an importer for a licence for any period should include such goods. In the event of a licence covering the whole period not having been issued at the time of importation of any of the goods referred to in paragraphs (a) and (c) (imported after December 31) the importers are required to make an application in respect of any such shipment at time of entry on importation; it will not be necessary for importers to show on these applications particulars of importations during 1938. “Goods will be deemed to have been ordered according to the date on which firm orders were actually placed overseas (1) direct by the importer, or (2) by an agent to his principal on behalf of the importer; or (3) by the importer to an overseas buying house; or (4) by buying houses in the United Kingdom on behalf of New Zealand importers, provided that in the latter case satisfactory evidence as to the date on which the order was placed is produced forthwith to the official representative of the Customs Department in London.” Mr Nash said that pending the issue of import licences covering the first period —namely, January 1 to June 30 —consideration would be given to applications in respect of orders which jt was desired to place immediately where these related to goods of an essential nature urgently required and the quantity involved was not excessive. PARTICULARS REQUIRED. “Any such applications should show the quantity imported by the applicant during each half-year of 1938,” said the Minister. “Any such importations which arrive in New Zealand after December 31 will, of course, be included in any quota which may be granted to 1 the applicant for the first period and any application covering the first period should include such goods.

‘■My attention has been drawn,” said Mr Nash, "to certain difficulties experienced by importers in lodging their applications to cover goods imported at individual ports. It is necessary for the quantities imported under licence to be checked at the port of importation and for that reason it is desirable, wherever possible, that applications for licences should be made to the Collector of Customs at the port of intended importation of the goods and that they should specify the quantity which it is desired to import at that port.

“I recognise that in certain cases it may not be possible to nominate, at time of lodging an application for a licence, the quantity to be imported at individual ports. In such cases, to meet the convenience of importers, I will be agreeable to an application being made in respect of a number of ports without specifying the quantities for each port. Such applications may be submitted to the Comptroller, together with a statement setting out the reasons why such course was desired, and indicating the port at which the importer's records covering his importations for the whole of New Zealand are available for any inspection which may be necessary."