ALTERATIONS MADE.

Auckland Star, Volume LII, Issue 280, 24 November 1921, Page 8

ALTERATIONS MADE.

INCREASE ON DRIED FRUITS. MORE BRITISH PREFERENCE. <By Telegraph.— Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, Wednesday. ' Following is an official summary of alterations in the tariff proposals effected by resolutions adopted in the House of Representatives to-night:— Confectionery, n.c.i., 2d per lb, British; 3d per Ih, foreign. Dried apples, apricots, and peaches: The duty on foreign ie increased from 2d to 4d per lb. Fresh apples and pears to be Id per lb, British; ljd per 'lb, foreign, all the year round. Macaroni and vermicelli to be 20 per cent British, 35 per cent foreign. Walnuts to be 2d per lb from all countries. Cut pipe tobacco to 1)0 4/10 per lb, plug tobacco 4/8 per lb. Cream of tartar, foreign 20 per cent. Wool yarns declared for use in making tweeds. 20 per cent British, 35 per cent foreign. Fur-left hat hoods to be free. Goat skins, kid ekrns, Persians, hog skins and bookbinders' leather to be 10 per cent foreign. Leather, n.e.i., and leather belting, 15 per cent or 3d per lb British, 25 per cent or Sd .per lb foreign. RooOng tiles, asbestos sheets, and slates, 10 per cent British, 20 per cent foreign. Paper.—The duty on foreign is raised from 10 per cent to 20 per cent. Writing ink, 20 per cent, or 2/ per gallon British, 35 per cent, or 3/6 per gallon foreign. Incubators, 20 per cent British, 35 per cent foreign. Dredging machinery, 10 per cent British, 15 .per cent foreign. Rook-breaking machines. 20 per cent British, 35 per cent foreign. Vacuum pans, 20 per cent British, 35 per cent foreign. Bill hooks and elashers, 20 per cent British, 35 per cent foreign. Engineers' brushes, 25 per cent British, 40 per cent foreign. Gas cookers and heatere, 25 per cent British, 40 .per cent foreign. Carriage shafts, epokce. etc., dressed, 20 per cent British, 35 per cent foreign. Coal tar, oils, ljd per gallon. Kerosene to be free. White lead in oil, 10 per cent British, 20 per cent foreign. All other paints ground in oil or mixed varnishes, stains, etc., 15 per cent British, 25 per cent foreign. EXCISE DUTIES AMENDED. TOBACCO AND ALCOHOL. TO ENCOURAGE INDUSTRY. WELLINGTON, Wednesday. Resolutioftis amjendilng the excise duties on tobacco manufactured in New Zealand, and amending in one particular the duties on alcohol used for manufacturing, were introduced in the House of Representatives to-night and adopted. The resolution in regard to tobacco is las follows, the duties originally proposed being etated in parentheses:— " That the duties on tobacco manufactured in New Zealand (as specified in a certain resolution of November 3, 1921), shall in respect of tobacco entered for home consumption after November 23, 1921, be subject to the alterations hereinafter set forth, and -the said resolution as altered ehall take effect accordingly, namely: (1) On tobacco cut (as specified in paragraph (a) of the said resolution) the duty shall be 2/4 per pound (2/6); (2) on other tobacco (as specified in paragraph (c) of the said resolution), the duty shall be 2/2 per lb (2/); (3) on tobacco, cut or uncut, containing not le-ss than 75 per cent by weight of leaf grown in Sfew Zealand and entered for home consumption not later than December 31, 1922, the duty shall be 1/ per lb (this is a new provision); (4) on cigarettes, if manufactured by machinery (as specified in paragraph (c) of the said resolution), the duty shall be 5/0 .per lb (6/6)."

A further resolution was adopted ac follows:—"That the second schedule to the resolutions of November 3, 1921, be fararended dn co far as it relate* to medicinal preparations containing more than 50 per cent of proof spirit, and that there shall be levied on the alcohol used in the production of euch medicinal pre parations entered for home consumption after November 23, 1921, a duty at ■the rate of 4/6 per proof gallon of alcohol." The original proposal was 5/6 .per gallon. BEATING THE TARIFF. AUCKLAND MERCHANTS SCORE. WELLINGTON, Wednesday. Three steamers reached Auckland with imports just before the new tariff came into operation, and some of the consignees cleared goods in time to avoid the heavy increases in duty on spirits and tobacco. But a number failed to do so, and their complaints were ventilated in the House by Mr. T. E. Y. Seddon (member for Westland), who asked the Minister of Customs if he would remedy an injustice. Hβ stated that the steamer Matakana arrived at Auckland before the new tariff operated, and, although Auckland merchants were able to clear goods through the Customs in time to secure the original duties, he had com■plaints that Greymouth and Dunedin merchants had been unable to clear their goods before the higher duties operated. In one instance the difference amounted to over £1000.

The INftnister of Customs replied that . under section 143 of the Customs Act an option was given to consignee* to pay the original or new duties, unless this provision was expressly withdrawn, as was the case with the recent tariff resolutions and when revision occurred m 190/. In the present instance it was considered highly desirable not to give the option, as greatly increased duties were levied on spirits and tobacco Mr Seddon: But Auckland merchants got the benefit of the former duty Hon. W. D. Stewart replied that this was the fault of merchants in other centres, because two other ships, the Piako and Tainui, arrived just before the new tariff, and merchants cleared their goods immediately the ship came into harbour, as they had a right to do. A number of Christchurch merchants took this course, as did also quite a number on the West Coast. Merchants had been warned months before of the possibilities of new duties. The difficulty seemed to be ihat perhaps some were unaware of their right to clear goods before they were landed, or they might not have been able to get their documents from the hanks in time. He wa3 willing to look into the question and see if it were possible to remedy an injustice if one had occurred, but reopening of the matter would have a serious consequence for the Customs.