NEW LIFEBOAT.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 19854, 15 February 1930, Page 16

NEW LIFEBOAT.

ADMITTED DUTY FREE.

CUSTOMS DEPARTMENT'S ACTION. Definite advice has now been received that the Sumner Lifeboat Institution will not be required to find the sum o £660, the amount assessed by the Cub toms Department as the duty payable on the new boat.

To a represehtativ© of J^?IH last evening the Mayor of Sumner (M W. H. Nicholson) outlined the negotiations with the Marine Department pri to and since the arrival of the boa . Mr Nicholson said that on the ° a arrival the Department stated that on the lodgment of a cheque for £660 ( per cent; ad valorem duty and 2 p cent, primage) the boat would be re " leased. At the latter end of January Mr Nicholson wrote to the Minister for Marine (Hon. J. G. Cobbc) asking for his decision in this connexion, and for his assistance in clearing the boat without delay. The Minister, who was away at that time, wrote to the Collector of Customs asking for full details as to the way in which the to be used, the necessity for having it, and whether any steps had been taken to have the boat built in New Zealand. These details were supplied by the secretary of the Institution (Mr C. F. Hines), who showed clearly that, of the seven shipbuilding firms in New Zealand from whom tenders had been invited, only three had replied, and it was quite obvious that none had the least conception of the Institution's requirements. . This being the case, acting on advice previously given, and in view of the responsibility in regard to the safety of human life, the Institution decided to follow the lead of the Lyttelton Harbour Board given thirty years ago, when the old Kescue was built, fend the order was placed with Messrß J. Samuel White and Co., according to plans and specifications approved by Earl Jellicoe. Since a reply had not been received from the Minister for Harine up to the time of the arrival of the boat, a telegram was dispatched last Saturday evening stating that the Institution' had no funds available to meet the payment required by the Collector of Customs. On Wednesday evening the members of the Institution were gratified to receive a telegram stating that it had been decided to admit the boat, under the heading of life-saving appliances, free of duty, provided that a satisfactory bond could be given that the boat would not be disposed of without the sanction of the Customs Department without payment of the 20 per cent, ad valorem duty otherwise payable.

In respect of the primage, the Minister stated that it was the intention to place a sum to cover this amount (£6O) on the Customs Estimates, on the understanding that should the boat not be passed by Parliament a claim would then be made for duty. "I wish, on behalf of the Lifeboat Institution, to express appreciation of the unfailing courtesy of the local Customs officials," said Mr Nicholson, "and the evident desire on the part of the Minister for Marine, and all concerned, to meet the situation in the best possible way in the interests of the public, and I feel sure that the crew will, if the occasion arises, give as good an account of themselves as in the past. Further, lam sure that the high traditions established by the old Bescuo will be continued by the new boat."