IMPORT RESTRICTIONS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 24 July 1939, Page 6

IMPORT RESTRICTIONS

VIEWS OF MASTERTON MANUFACTURER.

SERIOUS CHECK ON EXPANSION,

Mr L. B. Maunsell, managing -director of Hansell’s Laboratories Ltd., in formed a “Times-Age” representative that his firm had at last received import licences for necessary ingredients after several months’ delay. Although the licences have been reduced considerably, sufficient goods should be available to maintain last year’s production, but it would be impossible to meet the public demand should this increase at the same raje as in previous years.

Mr Maunsell. on being questioned on the subject, said it was quite natural to expect an increasing demand, but it was quite impossible to apply foP the exact quantity of ingredients necessary for manufacturing purposes. To have a mind free from worry, it should be possible for a manufacturer to cable for ingredients as required, and not be in a state of perpetual anxiety as to whether he would receive alicence or not.

Mr Maunsell said that the courteous treatment received from all Government officials was beyond praise, as all seemed to be willing to give every possible assistance to the limit of their restricted authority. In order to meet the changed condition, Hansell’s Laboratories have reduced advertising considerably and are concentrating on goods that can be sold without advertising. Mr Maunsell says this is the only thing to do under the circumstances, as there is no object in increasing the demand if there is any uncertainty about obtaining the necessary ingredients. For instance, Hansell's Laboratories applied for an £BOO licence for an important ingredient and this was reduced to £220. Mr Maunsell said that £BOO worth might be too much, but £220 worth would be far too little. He hoped, however, that an urgent appeal for more might be effective, on conclusive proof that the reduced licence was too small. At the same time, uncertainty was always a worry and killed initiative for expan sion.

On being asked to give his views on import restriction and lhe expansion of local industries, Mr Maunsell said the Government was very wise to encourage local industries to absorb the unemployed' as long as our credit was not affected adversely in Great Bri lain. In his opinion Now Zealand should be as self supporting as possible. and although a manufacturer, he considered it to be far more necessary to get able-bodied men on to the land than into local industries, as local industries would not be able to sell their goods if the farmers were not prosperous.