SURTAX AND PRIMAGE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 162, 11 July 1934, Page 9

SURTAX AND PRIMAGE.

VALUES FOR DUTY PURPOSES. EXISTING SYSTEM RETAINED. Surtax and primage and the conversion rate for duty purposes were dealt with by the Minister as follows: — "Except in special circumstances, it is not considered satisfactory that Customs duty should be levied by way of general imposts such as surtaxes and primage. It was agreed at Ottawa that the* primage duty at present imposed would be abolished as soon as revenue conditions permitted. The Government has given full consideration to this matter, but it is regretted that it is not at present possible to dispense with the revenue thereby received. "Surtaxes have been abolished so far as the United Kingdom and non-self-governing colonies are concerned in accordance with the Ottawa agreement. The result is that the great bulk of our dutiable imports are not now liable t<» this surcharge. It is prpposcd, in the meantime, to retain the existing surtaxes for tin- purpose of negotiating agreements with other countries. '•Then; has been a considerable amount ! of controversy as to the basis that should be adopted for the conversion for duty purposes of values not expressed in Xew. Zealand currency. As a matter of principle, r agree with the view of the Tariff Commission that values for dutyshould be assessed in the currency of the country levying duties. For our purnoses, 'however, the question is a practical one. As will be seen from the report of the commission, the evidence and data received and the calculations and determinations made by them were based on the existing system. It is therefore proposed at present to retain this system. ' 1