OFFICE BESIEGED

[DETAILS STILL LACKING MORE WORK FOR CUSTOMS ACCOMMODATION INADEQUATE When discussing yesterday the modification which has been made of a condition in the import, licence scheme relating to goods ordered overseas prior to December 5, Mr. P. N. Abcrcrombie, collector of customs at Auckland, explained that the proviso that quantities must not bo excessive would be interpreted in a reasonable spirit. Of courso, if it were found that an importer had lodged an order far in excess of what was known to bo normal in his business, the department would demand an explanation. From another source, it was learned that some importers had placed heavy orders prior to December 5 in anticipation of a scheme for the control of imports, but the number affected was relat ivelv. small.

Full information of the policy to bo pursued in determining licences in respect of particular classes of Roods is still not in the possession of customs officers in Auckland. The counters in the office of the department were yesterday literally besieged by inquirers or applicants requiring forms under tho regulations. It is very apparent that the accommodation in the customs office for the public is now inadequate in view of the extra business imposed by tho control scheme, and tho Treasury office on the same floor as tho Customs Department in the Government buildings has received instructions to vacate its offices to permit of an extension by the department.

THE FARMER'S FATE COMPLAINT BY MR. POLSON GOVERNMENT'S NEW SCHEME FOLLOWING HITLER PLAN [BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION*] * NEW PLYMOUTH. Thursday The effect on tho farmer of the Government's exchange control measures was tho subject of a statement last night by Mr. W. J. Poison, chairman of tho Primary Producers' Federation of New Zealand.

"It has apparently become the New Zealand farmer's fate to buy at hitch prices and sell at low," said Mr. Polson. "Now we ai6 committed to this new policy, no amount of guarantee manipulation will solve this difficulty. "The Government former!}' appeared to believe it could insulate New Zealand against world conditions and create a local Utopia without sacrificing anybody. It set out to pursue the Moscow road to that end by currency manipulation and the use of national credit in contempt of orthodoxy, but now it has retreated from Moscow and is advancing to Berlin, with rationed imports and regimentation and control of exports on the approved Hitler plan. Apparently our rulers are not very clear about their course and have noc a reliable compass."

£lO A WEEK LIMIT POSTAL MONEY ORDERS REMITTANCES ABROAD [BY TELEGRAPH —I'JRESS ASSOCIATION] WELLINGTON, Thursday With the announcement of the Government's new measures for the conservation of London funds fresh regulations were issued regarding Post Office money orders and the sending of remittances abroad. The limit fixed on money orders is £lO a week. Previously there was no limit to the amount of money a person could send abroad, although single money orders for more than £4O were not issued. Under the new regulations, however, no person is permitted to obtain more than £lO in money orders in one week. The limit on British postal orders is £1 a week. In the past a person could purchase several money orders to the value of £4O each, with no limit on the total sums remitted. Now a person wishing to send £4O by money order to London, for example, would ho required to obtain a £lO money order each week for four weeks, unless special permission was obtained from the Treasury to remit the money in a lump sum.