NO RELAXATION

Wairarapa Times-Age, 20 October 1939, Page 6

NO RELAXATION

RESTRICTIONS ON IMPORTS SOME TIGHTENING NECESSARY IN FIRST HALF OF NEXT YEAR. STATEMENT BY MINISTER OF FINANCE. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. Schedules were issued today setting out the basis on which import licences will be issued for the third control period—January to June, 1940. Imports during the January-June period of 1938 have again been taken as a basis for the issue of licences during the corresponding period next year and the same procedure generally in regard to applications and the issue of licences will apply. The Minister of Finance (the Hon W. Nash) states that in reaching a decision on the matter, the Government has given the fullest consideration to all issues, with a view to determining whether any modification might with advantage be made to the procedure in operation during the present year for the purpose of controlling imports. A number of suggestions had been received in that connection and had been carefully examined, but it was considered that no procedure other than that now in force would give the measure of control necessary under existing circumstances. It had been hoped that the reductions applied to certain imports during the present period would have had the effect of improving the relationship between imports and the sterling funds available from exports, and would have enabled some relaxation of restriction to be made during the next period. Unfortunately the circumstances which had since arisen had made any relaxation impossible meantime. On the contrary, it had been found necessary to effect a further reduction in imports, which necessitated tightening the restrictions in some degree. The Minister said a very wide range of goods (generally materials for industry and other imports of an essential nature), carried no restriction at all except the limitation meantime to the 1938 level. A NEW PROCEDURE. A new procedure was being applied I regarding certain items, in that no basic allocation was being made, but applications were to be considered individually on their merits. This was necessary in the circumstances in order that better control might be exercised in granting licences according to actual requirements. It would be necessary in such cases for the applicant to furnish full details of his stocks of such materials and such other information as might bo available to establish that the goods were actually required. PREFERENCE TO BRITAIN. The policy of granting a maximum measure of preference to the United Kingdom is again evident. It has become necessary, in fact, under present circumstances, which render the conservation of sterling exchange a matter of major importance, to purchase as far as possible our goods from the United Kingdom, consistent with meeting essential requirements. To that end, restrictions have been applied to imports of certain ’classes of goods which previously had been admitted from all countries on the same basis as those from the United Kingdom, while in other cases existing restrictions have been increased. MOTOR VEHICLES. The position regarding imports of motor vehicles is still under consideration, but it is expected that a decision will be reached in the course of a few days. Attention has been called to a possible difficulty in obtaining supplies of certain goods from the United Kingdom under existing conditions. Where this is found to be the case, every consideration will be given to applications to import goods from other sources, but in view of the necessity of maintaining a maximum volume of trade with the United Kingdom and of conserving sterling exchange, it will be expected that imports should come from that source wherever possible. Failing that, preference will be given to imports from some other Dominion. It is recognised, also, that owing to war uncertainty it will not be possible in all cases to arrange for goods ordered under licences to be imported by June next. It has accordingly been decided to permit goods to be imported under licences not later than August 31, 1940. Applications for licences must be lodged not later than November 30.

VARIOUS CATEGORIES

SOME DETAILS OF RESTRICTION.

(By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, October 20. Port licence schedules for the third period were issued today. Items in respect of which no licences will be granted in the meantime for imports from any country include chaff and a number of cereals, such as flaked maize, ground oats and pearl barley, aerated waters and beverage:’., cocoa and chocolate, bacon and hams, biscuits, many lines of confectionery and a number of commodities such as potted and preserved fish and meats. These total restrictions also include cigars, cut tobacco (manufactured), beer, cider and spirits. There is a further total embargo on apparel made to order or measurements of residents in New Zealand and on many manufactured articles of clothing and footwear. Other items under this category cover certain types of roofing tiles, plaster board and similar materials, fancy goods and toys, jewellery (excluding cutlery), a number of musical instruments, radio sets and various machinery, such as sheep-shearing and horse clipping machines. Items in respect of which no basic allocation is made but applications will be considered individually, include live animals, onions, potatoes, fruit juices, various dried and fresh fruits and many categories of machinery and appliances. i There is a long list of goods which will be admitted without restriction from any country except that in the meantime licences will be limited to the value of imports of such goods by the applicant during the corresponding

period of 19.33, These cover animal foods, medicated confectionery, salt, unmanufactured tobacco, various drugs and chemicals, certain leathers, paper pulp for the manufacture of paper, assembled bicycles and motor spirits'. There are also several categories where goods may be admitted from the United Kingdom up to the level of imports in 19.38, but subject to restriction from other sources, where goods are subject to a reduction of 25 per cent and 50 per cent from the United Kingdom and subject to restriction from other sources.

United Kingdom goods subject to the 25 per cent reduction comprise clocks, watches and bicycles, unless the frames and wheels are completely unassembled. tricycles and finished parts of bicycles. The fifty per cent reduction on United Kingdom good.; affects linoleum, cork carpels and rubber flooring, Chinaware, etc., for table use, tobacco, pipes, pouches and cases, adding machines, cash registers, etc., and motor cycles.