New Australian Import Plan
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CERTAIN British manufacturers of commercial vehicles will benefit more than others under a new import licensing system for vehicles announced last weekby the Australian Government.
Mr. J. McEwen, Minister of Trade, told the Australian Parliament that restrictions on the import of vehicles would be relaxed by £8.2m, a year, which means that imports to the value of £48m. a year will now be allowed. With the exception of passenger vehicles from the dollar area, all types of vehicle will qualify to share the concession.
Under the new arrangement, as sales of. a particular model increase, additional licences will be made available. Appropriate adjustments will• be made in licences in cases where there is a fall in demand. The object of the scheme is to make all the allocations of foreign exchange for the import of fully constructed vehicles, vehicles in knockeddown condition for assembly in Australia, and spare parts, in accordance with actual sales by individual importers.
Saying that the quota system was out of step with the country's requirements. Mr. McEwen added that some concerns were at present holding large stocks of vehicles and were not using their licences to the full. Other concerns were selling all they had. That was
because of consumer preference and. under the licensing system which was now to be altered, it had been impossible to permit imports of particular makes to the full extent of the demand.