REPORT OF THE TARIFF COMMISSION.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 9172, 1 August 1895, Page 5

REPORT OF THE TARIFF COMMISSION.

(PBES3 ASSOCIATION TELEGBAM.) WELLINGTON, July 30. The report of the Tariff Commission, with the evidence attached, woe laid on the table of the House, after the delivery of the Financial Statement to-night. The Com mission submitted an amended tariff, in wVich they made a distinction between articles which might be described as luxuries and articles of necessity, with a view to bringing the former under the highest rate of duty, and the latter under the lowest. The highest rate of duty recommended was on articles of bamboo manufacture, which are chiefly imported from Japan. In the soft goods line certain articles of daily use were recommended for ad: mission duty free, constituting a relief to the. purchasing public of nearly £20,000. A suggested reduction of 2 I per lb on tea meant * remission of £34,000 in the duty ; ft suggested reduction of one-half on kerosene meant a remss on of £18,000; and a suggestion to admit fe icing wire free of duty was equivalent to the remission of £14,000 A duty of £1 pec head upon horse*, and 10s per head onbn cattle was recommended. Altogether "the reductions ■recommended in various items amounted to £101,707, but such reductions were balanced as nearly as possible by the increases made on articles of luxury. Mr- Thomas Mackenzie submitted: a dissentient report, in which he said, " Whilst thoroughly in accord with, and supporting moat of the exemptions recommended, I regret that resolutions should have been carried recommending some of the increases of duties, which are obviously for the purpose of protection." Hβ also objected to aome of the other leading features of the report. The report and evidence form a bulky document of about 500 μ-tges.