FIFTH PERIOD IMPORTS ;

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21226, 24 September 1940, Page 6

FIFTH PERIOD IMPORTS ;

LICENSES COVER FULL YEAR WIDE RELAXATION NOT POSSIBLE POSITION OF OVERSEAS FUNDS IMPROVES No general relaxation of the import control restrictions was yet possible, stated the Minister of Finance, the Hon. W. Nash, in announcing the Fifth Period Import Schedule today. Mr Nash said that with the exception of one or two items licenses for this period were to cover the full year 1941, instead of the half-yearly period as had been the case hitherto. ThR miinwlnfr writ tliß principal Hems in respect or which some relaxation of liic restrictions is made:— Percentage Inductions Fourth Period Filth period United Other F,r- United Other ForKingdoin British eieh Kingdom British eign

On tlio otiipr Hand, said Mr Nash, it Had l)ppn round necessary to Increase the restrictions on a number of items mainly because the goods could be supplied by Industry in the Dominion. Principal among such items were the following:— Percentage Reductions Item No. Goods Fourth period Firth Period United Other For- United Other For-

Some provision is being made for imports of chassis for motor trucks, but it is not proposed to grant licenses for the importation of motor-cars.

IMPORTERS WARNED

tively high sterling balances, including delay in the arrival of goods and the normal seasonal rise, and pointed out the commitments ahead. In some cases the cost of essential goods had been doubled, while some expenditure would be necessary in respect of the Forces abroad. The first charge on funds available for imports, said Mr Nash, must be for goods to maintain the health the community, including medical supplies and essential foodstuffs. Arrangements had been made, he added, to provide stocks of essential goods to ensure that adequate supplies would be available to meet all requirements. The Minister then referred to materials required for increased primary production and for the development of secondary industries, mentioning the equipment of the armed forces in face of increased costs. For that reason, he said, the Government had found it impracticable to make any wide relaxation of the restrictions inso far as imported manufactured goods were concerned, but every endeavour would be made to provide as far as possible for the full requirements of industry in the nature of plant and materials. “Imports in 1938 will again form the basis for the granting of allocations to individual applicants,” said Mr Nash, “ although in the case of industrial materials (which represent the bulk of the expenditure) the allocations are generally related to actual requirements without strict regard to previous imports. More Drastic Action “ When releasing the schedule for the fourth period,” said Mr Nash, “ I drew attention to the practice which had been adopted by some importers of arranging for the importation of goods in anticipation of obtaining a license, and I issued a warning that apart from rendering themselves liable to the penalties provided under the law, importers who were guilty of such practice also took the risk of the good being seized. Despite this warning offences of that natiure against the regulations are still being brought to my notice, and I wish it to be understood that more drastic action will be taken in future regarding such cases. “ Suggestions have been made that licenses should be granted to cover a group of items rather than an individual tariff item. It has been represented that under such procedure an importer would be in a position to exercise his license to better advantage, that is, by importing those goods for which there was the greatest demand and naturally those which would give him the best return. “ This question has been very carefully considered,” said Mr Nash, “and while the desirability of allowing as much flexibility as possible in the use of licenses is recognised, it is not considered practicable at the present time, when a close control over imports is still necessary, to give effect to the suggestion. “ Blanket ” System “ The procedure adopted during the fourth period in respect of th 3 granting of 4 blanket ’ licenses to the j local representatives of overseas i suppliers of certain commodities is j being continued during the fifth : period.” ! Mr Nash concluded by saying that : it was the desire of the Government ! that the maximum of our require- , ments should be obtained from the 1 United Kingdom, and every endeaj vour would be made to achieve that 1 purpose. Importers generally would, { he felt sure, be in full accord with j that policy.

PREVIOUS LICENSES NO EXTENSION POSSIBLE SYSTEM OF OPERATION In stating that the fifth period licenses would be for a full year and not half-yearly as previously, Mr Nash said he was convinced that the j change would be welcomed by im- j porters. “It is necessary, however, to warn importers that the allocations granted to them are intended to provide for requirements for the full year,” added Mr Nash. “They are determined within the limits of the funds available and cannot be increased. Importers would be well advised, therefore, to arrange their imports or the distribution thereof so that they will cover the full period, otherwise they might find themselves during the latter part of the vear without any goods to trade with. “A further important aspect of the procedure, and one which is doubtless generally understood, is the policy being adopted regarding the expiry of third and fourth period j licenses. When releasing the fourth period schedule in April last, it was made clear that licenses for the third and fourth periods would be valid until December 31 net only, and importers were advised to arrange for importation by that date. No Carry-Over Possible “It is recognised that there may be difficulty in bringing the goods in within that period, but it is very important that there should be no carryover from one period into another. If this procedure were not followed it would be difficult to determine the amount which could be allocated for licenses in the subseauent period and would probably result in that amount being reduced to a lower level than ultimately found necessary. “It has therefore been decided not to extend third and fourth neriod licenses beyond December 31 next. Any goods ordered under such licenses which arrive after that date will be admitted only as a charge against the importer’s allocation for the fifth period. “Importers are accordingly warned that in nlacing orders against fifth period allocations they should make allowance for any goods ordered under third and fourth period licenses which might arrive after December 31. 1940. “As a means of exercising control and avoiding any difficulties,” Mr Nash added, “the following procedure will be followed in issuing fifth period licenses: “Where at the time of issue of fifth period licenses an importer has balances outstanding on third or fourth period licenses his allocation for the fifth period will be reduced by the extent of such balances until such j time as the licenses for the previous periods have been surrendered. This means that immediately the licenses for the previous periods are surrendered either before December 31, should the licenses have then been exhausted, or after December 31, licenses for the full allocation for the fifth period will be available. Greater Sum Not Available “The imoression appears to be fairly widely held,” said Mr Nash, “that since considerable sterling balances are at present held by the Re--1 serve Bank and the trading banks a greater sum is available for imoorts and restrictions can accordingly be relaxed. Such, however, is not the case. In fact, the conditions obtaining today all point to the necessity for maintaining a close control of imports and avoiding expenditure of overseas funds for non-essential imports which can be dispensed with at the present time. Mr Nash repeated his explanation 1 of the reason for the present rela-

LATE PERSONAL

Mr P. J. Gallagher, of Hamilton, has been appointed secretary of the Hamilton District Manpower Advisory Committee. The former secretary. Mr C. Walker, while acting as an assistant secretary of the committee resumed his duties as Placement Officer in Hamilton.

half-a-mile in 31s, a ta-k which Grandora uoiiLphMed in 3 1 --3 s, without being- unduly bustled. The two-year-old River Plale pleased while running hair-a-mile with Heron- Stalin 5 I 3-ss, Hay Miss running the lard Tour or live in 52 3-5-s. Lady Pas Worked well to eoniplete her task in 325. Queen City pulled up well artcr running three furlongs in 37 -i-ss. she has, to ail appearances, made a quick recovery from her recent injury. Burak was ju-t in rront of Net arh n a* the conclusion or three furlongs in 3ss Kerona and Pay idle were ai=o responsible for .1 nice ell ort in recording 3ss. Foodtide Over Seven 1 : .od Tide , , - . -i rurlomrs .n 1.33 Yalainito and Tc Kawiit being uUi on ferine a. tin* *-11*1 ol a .-malar task wnich loon Ilium 1.33 1-3. -mall Boy an-J s.-archer gav. a safe display over four fences, British Sovereign being responsible for a more impivsstw efl'ort in a similar task. Others gallops were;— Three furl* mgs, Miss Gay and snvei Clarion, :sv 3-3 - Greek March and Cumbria. 38 -J-s<s; Princess Yal covered u* hi t three or live furlongs in 40s; Manuroa. 40s; Eagle Hawk, i.'i 3-ss; Hogarth, 4os Four furlongs: The Dozer ail alias 55 -5-: I'Hiki in and court Favourite. 5 iflull Hand and Comtek, 53 i-s>: Gatun? 5i 1-5 s; Yerus, SS-; Foxula, 5$ 3-3 s. Five furlongs; M>>ito ami Minofa. 1.0 3-5. sea l.ow and High >'-a, l.>: Mlv.v ex and Namara, l.o; llemiti and l aJusIre. 1.5 J- 3. *.\ i ill-long-: Ivor, if* 3 ... Seven furlong-: Hunting Bee, 1.38 2- 5 \|.i/ir i- an utiiikcij aUiCi: in the Poland Lup vu saltmlav

Item No. Goods 1 ‘ 7 Gumboot-S 0 25 100 0 0 100 Ex 205 Hi) (ai—Pneumatic rubber tyres for motor vehicles 55 50 ion -.>5 *100 100 *75 per cent may be imported from t.nitod Kingdom. 21-1—Chinawaro for table use 30 tf00 tloo 25 *{00 *{00 15u per cent may be imported from U.K. *75 per ccna may be imported It'oni t .K. Kx 215—sanitary earibenware 50 loo too 25 loo too 27*—ink. printing, black 0 100 100 0 0 100 Ky :•*r*5 (2) Engines for motor vehicles E.v :s:f9—Incandescent filament electric lamp bulbs over iso watts and certain otner types not made in New Zealand 50 100 100 0 100 100 Ex 356 (1) (b)—Enamelled liolloware .. 50 100 100 0 100 100 Ex MO—Finished parts or bicycles ... 55 loo too o too loo Ex 3so (c) —Parts of motor vehicles .. 33 1-3 33 1-3 33 1-3 55 55 55

Kingdom British eign Kingdom British eign 55 (4-5)—Wooden matches 75 75 100 loo 100 100 Ex 134 (3) Cotton wool 0 0 0 100 100 100 Ex 136 (7) —Children’s socks 0 100 100 50 too loo Women’s stockings, full length of cotton 50 100 100 100 100 100 Ex 15?—I.abcls & hangers woven Tor clothing 0 0 100 100 100 100 Ex 171—Wadding 50 100 100 100 100 100 Ex l m3—Hand-knitting yarns 0 0 100 2 5 100 100 205 (5) — Bicycle tyres and tubes .... 50 100 100 100 100 100 Ex 510 (1) —Bolts and nuts 0 50 100 0 100 100 Ex 339—Electric lamp bulbs not exceeding ISO watts (excluding certain types not made in New Zealand ... 50 100 100 1 00 100 100 397 (6) —Kalsomtme, etc » o o ioo 100 100 too 397 (6) Kalsomimc, etc 0 0 100 7 00 100 100 Ex 414 (2) —Clothes pegs 0 50 100 100 100 100