NEW CUSTOMS DUTIES

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2553, 30 August 1915, Page 7

NEW CUSTOMS DUTIES

NOW OPERATING

SUMMARY OF SCHEDULES The following is a summary of the change's in: the Customs tar ill' which were embodied in the resolutions adopted by '.Parliament on Thursday night, and which came intooperation on Friday. The two descriptions of duty are general duty (which is levied on all goods of the classes mentioned whether imported from British or from foreign countries), and preferential surtax duty which is an additional tax on goods not produced or manufactured in British countries. All kinds' <jf spirits ■ and spiritous mixtures which have hitherto been subject to a duty of sixteen shillings per gallon now pay 17s. per, gallon. An advance from ' 16s. per gallon .to 17s. per gallon has also been made on flavouring essences' containing more than 33 pßr cent, of proof spirit, and on wines containing more than 40 per cent, of proof spirit, Wines of this strength do hot form an' important --tariff item. No ohange has been made in the duty on wines containing under 40 per cent, of proof spirit. . Refined mineral oils, such as kerosene, petrol, benzine, and other similar oils now pay a duty of fourpenee per gallon, whether in bottle :or bulk. Hitherto these oils when imported, in vessels of a lesser capacity than one gallon have paid a general duty of 20 per cent, ad valorem; but when brought in ill vessels of over a. gallon they were admitted free. Vegetable and animal oils, as well as mixtures of such oils with mineral oils' are not affected bj the new duties. Motor-cars, whether imported whols or in parts, are called upon under the new scale to pay a general duty of ten per cent., _and a further preferential duty of ten per cent, if imported from foreign countries. Previously a .differentiation was made between the chassis of a car and the car body, tho chassis having- , been admitted free, whilst the oar body paid a general duty of 20 per cent-.,-with no preferential duty. Under the new .tariff-.the duties specified will be uniformly levied' on the whole of the ca'r, whether fitted up or in parts. The only differentiation now is-in the case of the tyres, which will be subject to flip new duties if. they. are attached to the car, whereas if they are detached they Will be admitted free. An all-round tax of 50, per cent, on cars made in enemy countries is. proposed in the Budget, but this proposal was not included in the resolutions carried on Thursday, and is therefore not yet in force. Bicycles, tricycles, and motor-bicycles, including side-cars, are now placed on the-same footing as motor-cars. Exceptions are made in regard to isome minor parts (mainly unfinished) of these machines which are admitted free, as hitherto, if of British manufacture, whilst if they come from foreign countries they will be, subject to a preferen-tial-duty of . ten per cent;, as against 20 per cent, previously. The excise duties on goods, produced in manufacturing warehouses are now as follow, only two alterations having been mado, as indioaied: On perfumed spirit, £1 the liquid gallon; toilet preparations which are subject'to a duty of 17s. the liquid gallon on - importation, 13s. the liquid gallon (previously 125.),- toilet preparations which are subject to a duty of 25 per cent, on importation, 6s. the liquid gallon; culinary and flavouring essences 135.. the liquid gallon (previously 125.); medicinal preparations (expepting medicated wine or wine mixed, with food) _ ,containing more than 60'percent.Yof proof spirit, 9d. the lb.; medicinal preparations (excepting medicated wine or wine mixed with food) containing not more than 50 per cent; of-proof spirit; no duty* ~i