Random reminder

Press, 25 May 1977, Page 28

Random reminder

FINDING, EXCEEDIN MALE

Perhaps the most catchy title of all the Statutory Regulations passed in 1975 belong to the Customs Tariff (Ball or Rods for Use in Grinding Mills and Converters, Ingot Moulds, Ladles and Casting Machines) Amendment Order, 1975. Just to make sure that you are clearly aware of what the title is, Clause 1. of the Order reads: “This order may be cited as the Customs Tariff (Balls or Rods for use in Grinding Mills and Converters, Ingot Moulds Ladles and Casting Machines) Amendment Order 1975.” All clear? Everybody got that? Not the sort of title you could easily set

to music, but admirably explicit. The order having given itself its title, goes on to amend the rates of customs duty imposed on balls or rods for use in grinding mills, and converters, ingots moulds, ladles and casting machine. The rates of duty themselves are of no particular interest, except perhaps for the fact that balls or rods for use in grinding mills are less heavily protected than converters, ladles, ingot moulds and casting machines. Why, one wonders? Presumably balls or rods for use in grinding mills are better able to stand on their own two feet than are converters, ladles, ingot moulds and casting machines.

By the way, has anybody ever seen an ingot mould? It’s fairly easy to imagine what balls or rods for use in grinding mills look like, and converters, ladles and casting machines are not impossible to envisage, but for some reason it is difficult to summon up the image of an ingot mould. Presumably it’s nothing like the sort of mould you get on top of apricot jam after the cellophane has been left off for too long.

You wouldn’t be able to mould an ingot out of that. Anyway, whatever they look like, it’s nice to know that they're protected by the Customs Tariff ... all right, we won’t go through that again.