CUSTOMS DUTIES.

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 20772, 4 February 1933, Page 14

CUSTOMS DUTIES.

ADJUSTMENT PENDING. RESOLUTIONS PREPARED. [FnoM Ocr Parliamentary Ruportkk.] WELLINGTON, February 3. The closest secrecy is being observed in official circles about certain Customs resolutions which the Government intends to introduce into the House of Kepresentatives next week. At tho moment even the intention to bring down the resolutions is not conceded and before the adjournment of the House to-day the Leader of the Opposition (Mr H. E. Holland) was told by the Prime Minister that the business for next week would be simply the Bills on the Order Paper. It can bo reliably stated, however, that the resolutions would have appeared this afternoon had the debate on the Banks Indemnity Bill not lasted so long, making it impracticable for further business to be taken in view of members' plans to leave for their homes this evening. A brief announcement that it was proposed to adjust tbe tariff as part of the Government's general scheme was made by the Minister for Finance and Customs (the Pit. Hon. J. G. Coates) in his speech in the House to-day, but he declined to elaborate the .point when interviewed this evoning. There is a strong suggestion that the adjustment of the tariff may be contemplated to restore British imports to relatively the same position as they were in before the exchange rate was raised. The prospective changes, it is understood, are not related to the Dominion's undertaking to make a general tariff revision which was given at Ottawa a» the necessary investigation upon' which that revision frill depend has aot yet been put io h*nd.