CUSTOMS RETURNS FOR AUGUST

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27443, 1 September 1954, Page 15

CUSTOMS RETURNS FOR AUGUST

INCREASE SHOWN IN CHRISTCHURCH

Revenue \ collected by the Customs Department Un Christchurch last month amounted \to £582,425, compared with £572,000 in'.August last year. The total revenue for ;the five months of this financial year was £3,151,571, as against £2,575,169 for the same period last year. Detailed returns, with last year’s figures in parenthesis are:— August.—Customs and excise, £268,491 (£313.490); petrol tax, £123,084 (£4L714); tyres. £337 (#161); sales tax, £190.895 (£215,630); ligHt dues, £1445 (£886); miscellaneous, £173 (£119); total, £582.425 (£5724)00). March-August-T—Customs and excise, £1483345 (£11392.536); petrol tax. £620,630 (£218.702); tyres. £1026 (£345); sales tax. £1,039.529 (£958,345); light 5626 (««fcD: miscellaneous, £Bl5 (£1080); total, ££.151.571 (£2,575,169).

AUCKLAND Revenue collected by the Customs Department. Auckland, during August, totalled £1386.367, .against £1,445.517 in August, 1953. Details are:—customs, £828,663 (£675,532 in August, 1953); petrol £4O7 ’ 232 (£133351); tyre duty, £745 (£665); sales tax,, £565351 (£480,554); other revenue, £184,376 (£154,815). Collections for the eight months of this 2?}?&L M y $ ar J otal 644,762, against £11.895.591 in the same period of 1953. DUNEDIN There was a big increase in duties of goods passing through the port of Otago for August, compared with the same month last year. Figures, with those of the corresponding month last year, are customs, 1954, £157.954 (£138.784); sales tax, £93,210 (£78476); petrol, £72419 (£22,609); tyres, £lgs (£19); toti £323,458 (£239,888).

COMPANY NEWS Rotoltl Timber.—Dividends announced are ordinary 15 per cent, and preference 6 2-5 per cent., ex September 29.—(PJt.) Mallng, Ordinary Increased—Dividends recommended by MaUng and Company to the annual meeting of shareholders on September 23 are final of 31 per cent on preference shares (5 per cent for the year) and final of H per cent, for ordinary shares, making 10 per cent, for the year, plus a bonus of 2J per tcent. on ordinary shares. Feltex (Aust.) High Dividend.—Felt and Textiles (Australia) directors announce subject to audit, an aggregate net profit for the year ended June 30 of £700,000 a fter providing for taxation and after excluding interests of outside shareholders. Directors recommend payment of a final dividend of 5 per cent, on ordinary shares, making 10 per cent, for the year, against 8 per cent, last year. They also announce a half-yearly 6 per cent, first preference dividend, payable on October

SMITHFIELD MEAT VALUES STEADY

With a fair demand for moderate supplies, values improved and ruled steady throughout the week, says a report on the Smithfield meat market received by the New Zealand Meat Producers’ Board. There were no chilled beef supplies offered last week. Comparative wholesale prices ruling at Smithfield are as follows:

Aug 14 Aug. 21 Aug. 28 d per lb d per lb d per lb Frozen Beef— Arg. hinds 24 to 27 24 to 26 24 to 26 Arg. fores 15 to 17 15 to 17 16 to 17 N.Z. hinds 24 to 26 — 23 to 24 N.Z. fores 15 to 17 — 16 to 17 Aust, hinds 23 to 25 23 to 25 — Mutton— N.Z. wethers 12 to 15 12 to 16 11 to 15 N.Z. ewes 9 to 14 10 to 14 9 to 14 Lamb— Scotch and English 27 to 32 26 to-flO 26 to 32 N. Zealand 27 to 29 27 to 29 26 to 29 Australian — 27 to 29 26 to 28 S. American 21 to 24 20 to 23 21 to 24