PREFERENTIAL TARIFF ACT.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 11749, 25 November 1903, Page 8

PREFERENTIAL TARIFF ACT.

FULL TEXT OF THE MEASURE. THE PERIOD OF. EXEMPTION. The following, telegram ha* been received from Mr W. T. Glasgow. Secretary and Inspector of Custonu», Wclliagton, by Mr J. Mills, thft Collector of Customs for Lyttelton and Christchurch:— ' "Hie Preferential Trado Bill, assented to by his Excellency the Governor, doee not apply to goods imported on or before the 31st of March, if ordered on or before the 16th hist. British goods imported after the 30th of June next must have a certificate of origin on the invoice. The duty on tea produced in British dominions cease* after 31st March next, except on tea in packets not exceeding one pound w* iU.'' The text of the Act is as follows: — Aii Act to encourage trado with the British Empire by imposing extra dutiea on certain imports, and to provide for reciprocal trade with foreign countries. Be J it enacted by tlie General ■Assembly of New Zealand "in Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, a* follows :— *1. The short title of this Act ia "The Preferential and Reciprocal Trade Act, 1903;" and it shall form part of and be read together with the Customs Law* Consolidation Act, 1882" (hereinafter referred to as "the, principal Act"). PREFERENTIAL TRADE. 2. From and after the passing of this Act there shall be leviable on the several articles mentioned in the first and second fcchedulea hereto imported intp New Zealand and not being the produce or manufacture of some part of the British doI minions, in addition to the duties authorised under any tariff for the time being in force in New Zealand, the following duties:—(a) On the article specified in the first schedule hereto, an amount equal to the amount payable under the said tariff, (b) On the articles specified in the second schedule hereto, an amount equal to onehalf of the amount payable under the said tariff. . ~ . * 3. From and after the passing of thi* Act there shall bo leviable on the several articles mentioned in tho third schedule hereto imported into New Zealand, and not being the produce or manufacture of some part of tlie British dominions, duties of Customs equal to 20 per centum of the value for duty a* defined by the principal Act, or by any Act amending the principal Act. 4. Tlie provisions of asjctloiw two and three hereof shall not be applicable in the case of—-(a) Good* imported on or before the thirty-first day of March, one thousand nine hundred and four, if it is proved to the wttisfaotion. of the Collector that an older for the goods wa* sentjfrom. New Zealand on or before the sixteenth day of November, one thousand nine hundred and three, (b) Printing papers imported by and for the uee of the proprietors of any j registered newspaper, if it is proved to the satisfaction of the Collector that they are imported Under a valid contract for the supply of such papers for a period not, exceeding three years, entered into prior to the wxteenth day of November, one thonf_nd nine hundred and three. (c) Rails for tramways and other goods mentiraed m tho schedules hereto direoUy imported i before the tliirty-firsv day.-..-of Marc-, one thousand nine hundred and six, for use in the construction or equipment of any tramway for which plans and specifications; have - been completed or are in course of preparation on the passing of this Act.: . 5. Tlie duties authorised under this Act 'shall'be, levied, collected and paid oti importation into New Zealand, on or before ckaranoe from any.warehouse for home consumption,: at the time of making import entry" or horn* consumption" j;:fo6y: -therefor..' '~''•/ '•'■ ';'.»' -■';-, --','.'".' " y V-'l!& ■■•'!■■ \ b, On the' iihportattbia of any article* mentioned in any of the schedule* hereto, the importer or bis agfent, in addition" to the particulars required by the principal Act' to : be given on the entry of "dutiable, goods, shall state, to the best of-'bisknow-ledge, information ,and Belief,'-.tho country of which such goods are the produce! or; manufacture,, and shall satisfy the Collector, by, declaration or otherwise,., of■s*• truth of such statement. ■]{■■/: 7. If a Collector has reason to believe that any good* are not the produce'or manufatfturo of the country stated on such entry, he may detain them tfor e_aminationj. and if, after, due inquiry; ho is tutisfied that> such statement was false, the goods shall bo: forfeited and dealt with a*;directed by"\h« principal Act"!-; tlie case'of forfeited, g00d*,..? ■:■' '■-■£&': };X\ , 8. With respect to all article* mehtioned in the schedules hereto imported into -"Ne*., Zealand after th* thhtietli day of June, one thousand nine' hundred ,and four—(S). The full dajtyvundorythia y'Aob :a_al|iv.B* Syfhfo'tlinitm. theft -.Is ; jftrodaiced' to; the !»^^_n'fin»oicy. ! 'bf".' the- goods' having '■ thereon a oWtffioato signed 'by 1 .'the, *ander or «m_grior, in sttoh forma* may be prescribed by tha .Owi*mlsslmiieiy stating that the godda; ar« l botia fide the 1 produce or manufacture of some part of th* "British dominions farmed in tho{<>ertnl6Bte. ? (b) (No such invoice shall relate to any"'.-'goods' ; ■other-"'than^b** : \t6. 1 which tho- o««ficato-:'refe^;-<'?f->.(i!) r < -Irf_erei: such good* are imported in pac]ca|{e*, *och packages shall not contain any goods other, than _io*e specified in the invoice, and if any, 'other good* are found in' *ny. such package they _hall be forfeited. ■ (d): Every importer or agent of an '_utoit<jt>j who produces any- lnvoica.br. oeitifloato?u_ : der this section, knowing : ':tho;«fWiO;,to',_•',' false in any Tpartkukr, Vis, to' - fine not exceeding one: htmdr»d pcHmds, or, at too option of the Commissioner, to treble the value of the goods specified in" such invoice. -' ;■:■'■■:: y\ ' •".-.•..'■. .:■■■:■'■^■i-->'>:>.?^. |. (1) From aid, after the thirty-first day of March, one thousand dine hundred and four, do duty shall be leviable «n tea grown, in any part of • the British: do* minion*, except on tea in packet* not exceeding one pound in weight. : (2) The "provirioinij. of section* six to;, eight herfcof shall' apFlj every importation of tea after tlie date last mentioned.. ; i .; 10. In.any proceedmg «risinjj" under this Act- the onus of proof,that any goods are the produce or manufacture of any part of I the. British dominions shall be o„ the im-J j porter.- - ■'''..''',''•■; : "" ■■!''~.' -'■' '■'"'.■] lL Tlie Governor may from time-toi _mc, by. Ordcr-in-Criaiicil g»aet4ed, make regulations for carrying this Act into, effect, and may impose fines for the breach of any woh regulation not exceeding one hundred pounds. RECIPROCAL TRADE. 12/ Where any country being part- of the British dominions reduce* or abolishes, or proposes to reduce or abolish, the duty on any product or manufacture of New Zealand, the Governor may enter into an agreement with, that country to reduce or abolish the duty on any article or articles tho produce or manufacture of such country to an extent that the estimated revenue so remitted shall equal a* nearly a i possible the estimated revenue remitted by that country. Provided that no, such agreement shall have effect until ratified by Parliament. 13. Where any country not being! part of the British dominions reduces or abolishes,' or proposes to reduce or abolish, the duty on any product or" manufacture of New Zealand, the Governor may, subject to. or by virtue of; a treaty with bis .Majesty, negotiate with such country for an agreement with that country to reduce or abolish.the duty on any article or articles the produce or manufacture of such country, to an extent that the estimated revenue so remitted shall equal a* nearly as possible the estimated revenue lemitted by that country: Provided that such agreement' shall not have effect or be. operative until ratified by an Act of the Parliament of New Zealand. : _CHE3>P_4!S. ?'• First schedule—Cement. .■•••;-. Second schedule—Basket and wk*er ware, n.0.*,, not being farrutur*» bicycles, v tri-

<7ele« f ,awi the. lilto yehWes, or partly finished or machintd part* same, n.0.e., including weldless Kteel cut to short lengths; boots, «lioe* and '*lljpM| per*, n.0.e., golbshe*, clogs, ▼amps, upper* and laoe»j candle* j ■ c-Mtff riages, carts, drays, waggon* and pcrsn-buiial later*, and wheel* for the tame} ch-Mi'fi porcelain and parian war© j clocks; and rope, n.o.e. 5 cream of urtaf; earthen* ;M ware, atenewar© and , bmwnware; fancy )lm goods and toys? iSrearnw, all kinds 1 n*h,i|»| potted and preserved ; furniture and cabi* ttM netware, n.o.e, and other .than ironj crown, sheet, and common window, ware, also plate glass, and glass poluhedv;-:".J coloured, and other kinds, n.o.e, glob**;™ and chimneys for» lamps; hardware, mongery and hollowarc j hops; iron iron pipes and fittings for same, including' s i: M main-cocks; himps, lantenu and la_*p.gt|| wick; musical instruments, vis., pianos 1 '-'Ml paperhanguigs; paper, ■wrapping, blue candle, glased cap, glaxed casings, small-hand, lumber-hand and tissue; paper,':''!! wrapping, other kinds, including- brown; isM cartridge and mgit papers; plate _ed, : .';:?| plated ware; pumps and other apparatus i-.3 for raising water. .-' " " : *$M Third schedule—Bicycles and tricycles, !.fjs fittingn for, via,, rubber tyres, pneumatic >"| tyres, outside covers, and inner tubes, ber and cork bandies and pedal-robbers^'«|| also drop-forgings and stampings, baKU,; ?M bearings, weldless steel tube in full lengt_y£'Lffi| rims. Turks and spokes in the rough: gaatsjf engines and hummers, and oil engines j*s3l gum boots; iron and steel cordage 5 ircoiJ'MJ plain black sheet, rod, bolt, bar and printing paper; rails for railways and>fw tramways ; sailcloth, canvas, and ed double-warped duck; surgical and de«J]|jl tal instrument* and appliances, ■■'■'■£$§&