THE TARIFF AND FLANNELETTE

Evening Post, Volume L, Issue 39, 14 August 1895, Page 2

THE TARIFF AND FLANNELETTE

TO TIM EDITOIt. Sib — The imposition of 20 per cent, dn'y on the above has led ns to plaoe before the public the enormously enhanced prioe at which theso goods mqat now be plaoed on the market. In the Kuahine we have five oases- of flannelottes, of which the invoiced cost at the mill is £108 6s 2d, while tho charges, gronped together, amount to £42 18s 4d. Of this sum the dnty is £24 12s, which, ooupled with the trade advance of £6 ss, makoß the total increase through this new duty £30 17s — or, to make a the matter more intelligible to the uninitiated, every £'s worth imported from England is surcharged by this tax in the snm of 53 8d to the oonBumor. We would also point out that the five Sacking oases cost £3 5s 3d, on whioh we aye to pay tho Customs 14s 4d, selling them finally at 2s 6d each. Flannelette has gained snob, an important plaoe in the requirements of the family, as well as of the individual, that it has very materially affected the sale of white and grey calicoes, wlnoh are free. Its usefulness is still inoreasiDg in favour, and affords employment to great numbers of workers throughout the oolony. As importers, this loading of the article does not really affeot us, unless to our benefit, as any oommeroial man oan see ; for, whatever is the price of the goods landed in the warohouse, an advance on this net aost must be made for the expense Of selling and giving a return for the capital invested. ' In oonolnding, we wonld also express the opinion that the tax on this material will not in the slightest degree beneficially affeot the sale of English or colonial flannels. , We are, Ao., > Kibkoaldii ft Stains. UtbAugrut. ' .