PERTINENT POINTS.

Evening Post, Volume LXXIV, Issue 25, 29 July 1907, Page 4

PERTINENT POINTS.

A- • WHAT THE TARIFF MEANS. THE OTftERSiPE OF THE * ' ' 3UESTION. -Tt would apjear from what has boon published in <h& newspapers that the »verage. citizea dde» • not realise tho full effects of the changes proposed in connection with the^ariff. There has been a, vast amount c discussion, and criti- , cism in connectioi with motor-cars, bjl-ljard-tables, and boots; but these are not tjie points h the tariff proposals : th»t should appe*' to tho public. Th« removal of the d^iy from \ Very large immbor ©f articies\"»f t©od and clothing is mora important V> th& taxpayer than any changes iv re«'d to motor-cars and biliiard-tables, and may be of interest to explain the- projwals in some detail. ARTICLES }}F FOOD. < Tho duty is to be^emoved aitogefher from the> following Vticles of food :—: — Sugar, currants, raiitns, sultanas, almonds, prunes, figsl! dates, maizaaa, to^nflqwer, , treacU r ,^lden syrup, tartaric icid, cream of Urtar," citric acid, bi-carbonate of .soda^ -ice flour, barley flour, sugar of milk, Bircelona nuts and Brazil nuts. The following .table' \»^11 illustrate the change* in .regard to scpao of the more important, items :—

, :': ' . COTTON QOODS. - Then the duty is to be jrepjoved from cotton piece- -goods. This, 'means that the .housewife will no logger have to pay a- ten "per cent. <luly wi»n she pnr<;ha«es~ Turkey twills, dress" prints, aenims,, drill?, dimities, flannelettes, army gr-ey. .shirting, moreen, canvas for fancy ■work, dungaree, for working suits, cotton; ,'tsord, linings for • dressmaking, and liberty ' muslins. $or will she have to pay a twenty percent duty in connection with tapestry,, cretonnes, chintz, art cr«*pß, serges, velveteens, plushes, all kinds , of dam>aßks, moquette, all sateens, linettes, ere- . pans,,; crimps, zephyrs, ginghams, all cotton prints, piques, vestings, marcellas, muslins, dress and millinery . nets, window nets,, hollands, curtains, blind hollands, bed anil pillow rolled twillfngs, nainsook, dress v hollands, pillow linens, linen sheeting, linen .fiontingSjVtJrash' twillings, all linen toweling, and "damask," and table linens In piece. A prominent retailer states "that, the xe/OQval o£ the 'twenty per cent- duty will .mean a reduction to the public of. from 5s to '65 in the pound, wfiile' the removal of .the ten per cent, ditty ■will maket a difference . of something like f our . ihillings, in the pound. In, other words, good that previously cost £1 will* be 'obtainable for 14s or 15s in the .one c^se, and 16s to 17s in the other. '".. ,T QTHER REDUCTIONS. ' Appliances for the assistance and, relief of the sickj such as silk' and rubber . bandages, crutches^ trusses, and artifi- , rial limbs, are to be admitted free. \ Bee-keepers are to be assisted by the Iree admission of the implements of their" craft, with the exception of. fhe Kbxes, 'which can be manufactured'Jocally/ 'Thfs'concesslori covers be*, smokers, .wax extractors, rubber gloves, queen cages, comb foundations, honey knives, - honey extractors, and -wax presses. „. • , Chemical fire-extinguishers are to come''in>'free.' * . ""Fapeif-haflgings,.' which, now bear'n 'duty, of " fifteen per cent., aro to be adS mitted free. This will mean a reducV "tipn.in price -to the public equal to a cjish discount of about 1 four shillings pel pound. _ , . •• All window glass, including plateglass'for windows, has been placed on the 'free .list. It is at present subject to a du£y "of two shillings per huudj^d fe»t superficial.' .Plate glass not ifor windows and plate glass bevelled or •silvered retains the duty. - ' ' BILLIARD TABLES. There, has been considerable discussion, regarding th© reduction of the duty .on ■ billiard-table furnishings .from 25 per. cent, to ' 20 per cent. At present billiard-tables arc charged 20 per cent., but the' furnishings, bearing the 25 per cent, duty, have to be 'classed in all sorts of -strange wayr. Billiard balls are classed as fancy goods, brass rods -and* runners as brass manufactures, cues as 'fancy goods, cue clips as hardware, cue-cases as wooden ware, cue-tips' as leather manufactures, and pockets as . furniture: The proposal is to make the complete- table bear a uniform duty, HOSIERY. . "The .desire for uniformity is responsible for 'the much criticised change in ' regard to 'hosiery. Hosiery, in the eyes of the Customs Department, includes ajl sorts of., woven underwear for both sexes. Some of the woman's garments are decorated with a little lace, insertion, or other decoration, and they had to be classed as "garments" and charged 2ft per cent. In order to avoid the conctant difficulties of such a system, the Government has put all hosiery on tho 25 'per dent, basis. RIBBONS AND LACES. The reduction of the duty on lace goods, ribbons, crepe, silk, tatin, and velvets from 25 per cent, to 20 per cent is explained in the same .manner. The ' change involves only a slight conces- ' rion, but it facilitates examination, enormously. The 20 per cent, duty is now imposed on all goods of that class, and the necessity fdr a detailed examination of each consignment is thus avoided. Sometimes it has been necessary for the Customs oraeers to. cut off a piece of material and subject it to a chemical te«t in order to ascertain whether it contained silk. ' Npw all piece goods are on the, uniform 20 per cent, basis. The importer is' relieved of anxiety and vexatious delays, and the work of the Customs Department is lightened very considerably by the simplification of the tariff. ' These are details/ however, which the f politicians will discuss. The outstanding feature of the new tariff, it is point•4, out, is the reduction on goods used oy wery man, woman, and child in the ,ieo!onj\ and that feature, it is claimed, fy;ems h'sorps danger of being obsculed $8 smoke of the battle ranging -ad the motor-cars and billard-tables.

. Article ' ' Present dutj • • - . • - per Ib. Sugpur ... 'A Currents ... Id •Rftisins " ... lv Stfltanps , ... Id Almonds . ... 2d Barcelona nnts ... 2d -Brazil nuts ... 2d Prutfes ... 2dFigs 2d . Dates ... .V. 2d It Percentage of valuo 30 30 30 30 10 38 70 • 66 -60 200