IMPORT LICENCES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 17 February 1939, Page 5

IMPORT LICENCES

ALTERATION IN PROCEDURE. POSITION AS TO GOVERNMENT GOODS. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) AUCKLAND, February 16. With a view to facilitating the issue of licences in respect of goods imported by merchants and private contractors for supply to Government departments or for use for Government contracts, it has been decided, said the Minister of Customs, Mr Nash, today, to modify the procedure with applications for licences. In making applications in respect to the first licensing period, merchants and private contractors included in the value of their imports during the corresponding period in 1938 the value of imports of goods supplied to the Government as well as imports for ordinary business purposes, and licences had been issued accordingly, said the Minister. It was considered preferable, in order to avoid any difficulties which might arise, that for import licences, goods imported for supply to the Government should be made the subject of separate applications. Accordingly, in future, it will be necessary for importers to show the value of the goods imported in 1938, excluding the value of goods supplied to Government departments, the value of the latter to be shown separately. Ordinary licences would be issued on the basis of the former value. Separate applications should be made from time to time in respect of goods specially imported for supply to the Government or in the replacement of goods supplied from ordinary stocks. The Minister also stated that it had been incorrectly reported that no licences were required for the importation of books and medicines. Licences were required for all commercial products, but there were no restrictions on books or medicines.