ABNORMAL IMPORTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 21037, 23 November 1931, Page 9

ABNORMAL IMPORTS.

BILL BECOMES LAW. FIRST ORDER ISSUED. Dim' OF 50 PER CENT. CHIEF GOODS INVOLVED. By Tolegraph—Press Association—Copyright. (Received November 22, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, Nov. 21. The ..Abnormal Importations Customs Duties Bill was passed through all its stages in the House of Lords without division and received the Royal assent. One of the amendments debated during the committee stage of the bill in the House of Commons was a proposal that all goods ordered from abroad before November 15 should bo exempt from duty. This amendment was rejected. The Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade, Mr. L. Hore-Bclisha, said the effect would be to extend to foreign exporters a consideration which their Governments did not show when they were imposing tariffs and would exempt many excessive imports already in bond or still to come. If British importers had foiled to take account of a possible tariff in their contracts they had been badly advised. In any case, their interests could not be preferred to the interests of thoso whom dumping would throw out of employment. Viscount Hailsham, speaking for the Government in the House of Lords, said the bill did not represent a permanent policy. It- was a, temporary measure of six months' duration to deal with a pressing emergency. Before its term expired the Government would bring forward proposals relating to the agricultural industry. The first order under the new Act 'issued by the Board of Trade will operate on November 25. It imposes a duty of 50 per cent, of the value on certain articles scheduled, including domestic j pottery, glassware, • cutlery, tools, clec- | trical vacuum cleaners, wireless sets and I parts, typewriters, silk or artificial silk stockings, linen, clothing, bicycle tyres, woollen manufactures, worsteds, pile fabrics, flannels, blankets, felt, carpets, rugs and packing or wrapping paper.

AMERICAN ACTION. RETALIATORY DUTIES. POWERS SOMEWHAT RESTRICTED. $ (Received November 22, 5.5 p.m.) WASHINGTON, Nov. 21. The United States Government moved to-day to levy countervailing duties to meet the new British tariffs, but officials quickly found that few., if any, articles would be eligible for higher rates. Under the countervailing provisions of the United State?' tariff the Government is permitted to raise the rates on a small number of articles to a figure equal to that of foreign countries on similar .American exports. Investigation has shown that the retaliatory provisions affect only motor-cars, trucks, bicycles, coal, coke, paper-board, wall-board, pulpboard, leather-board and gunpowder. None of these items is noted in British schedules published in Washington. Experts of the Treasury and Department of Commerce are. preparing a list of the articles on which duties can be increased. The assistant secretary of the Treasury, Mr. Lowman, disclosed this plan to-day. He expects increases to be in force by the time the British duties operate. CANADA TO BENEFIT. EXPORTS OF PAPER. ADVANTAGE UNDER ACT. (Received November 22. 5.5 p.m.) OTTAWA, Nov. 21. It is believed that Canada is in a position to take considerable advantage of the duty of 50 per cent, imposed on certain imports by- the new British Act, notably paper products.

FRENCH SURTAX. PROTESTS OF NO AVAIL. HOPE IN BRITISH TARIFF. (Received November 22, 5.5 p.m.) PARIS, Nov. 21. The French Government at present has not proved responsive to the strong protest reported to have been made by Britain and other countries against the 15 per cent, customs surtax. Interested people hope the British tariff will provide a more effective argument.