WHISKY IMPORTS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 28 October 1941, Page 6

WHISKY IMPORTS

RESTRICTION OF OVER 80 PER CENT ONLY MEDICINAL SUPPLIES TO BE AVAILABLE. ACCORDING TO CANTERBURY AUTHORITY. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, This Day. Compared with importations of whisky in 1938, there will be a quantitative restriction of 82j per cent for 1942, it was stated this morning by an authority on the subject. “People grumble now about the difficulty over procuring whisky,” he said, “but next year they can look forward to whisky b eing available only for medicinal purposes. The position regarding other spirits is substantially the same and representations are being made to the Government to permit of the importation of greater quantities. As far as whisky is concerned, supplies are available in the United Kingdom if only the necessary licences were granted by the Government.”

It will be recalled that it was explained that the restrictions were first imposed in January, 1939, on account of the internal economy of the country going askew. At the end of the first half-year, shippers of spirits from the United Kingdom agreed to send whisky to New Zealand without touching London funds, on a deferred payment basis. However shippers tired of that after the war had started, when Britain wanted money all over the world to assist her war effort. The decree went forth that whisky should be paid for and the government decided on a 50 per cent restriction, which came into operation on July 1, 1940, when licences for 1941 were granted. There was a further 50 per cent restriction, which brought the basis down 'to 25 per cent of the 1938 imports. Higher f.o.b. costs and charges would take the quantity for 1942 down to 17-1 per cent of the 1938 figure.