James Alexander Robb
Laurier Liberal
Mr. J. A. ROBB (Chateauguay-Hun-tingdon) :
I desire to direct the attention of the Government, and of the Finance Minister (Sir Henry Drayton) in particular, to a statement sent out by one of the larger New York banks to its Canadian correspondents, and by them passed along to their branches throughout Canada, intimating that the New York hank has information that the Canadian Government will, within a very short time, increase the customs duties by adding 30 per cent to the already existing duties.
I am sure that if this information is not well-founded, the Government and the Finance Minister will see the importance of at once giving it a flat denial; otherwise, it will stimulate imports that are not immediately needed. On the other hand, if it is well-founded, someone has been indiscreet.