LIQUOR AND TOBACCO

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 148, 24 June 1915, Page 2

LIQUOR AND TOBACCO

REMOVAL FROM AUCKLAND BONDED STORES. IN ANTICIPATION OF WAU, TAXATION. (»I triBOhAPB— TTiSi ASSOCIATION.) AUCKLAND. 23rd June, During the pa*t _ ten daye enormous quaßtities of alcoholic liquor and tobacco have been removed from Auckland bonded stores. No explanation is forthcoming for this unwonted activity, but it is freely and i definitely stated that it is in anticipation of an alteration in the tariff which is considered likely to be made by the new Parliament. It is thought that any war taxation cannot be passed until next Wednesday, and that until then importers have a breathing space, which is calculated to be sufficient to enable them to avoid a very large proportion of their wax taxation. The invariable rule in regard to Customs tariff alterations is that all goods in bond at tho time an amending Bill passes the Legislature are taxable under the new rate,. hence the anxiety of locs.l merchants. So great has been the rush at the bonded stores that carts have been coming 'and going all day long since the decision was taken, and no speed has beon too great. No figures are available, and duty paid during the week, as compared with the corresponding period of last year, would constitute an unfair comparison owing to tho number of ships that have arrived recently. It is stated that the value of the goods released from bond runs into very many thousands of pounds. ' The principal activity relates to liquor, the greater portion of which is whisky, both bottled and bulk ; brandy, rum, and • wine following in that order. Very iiu,le ' beer enters the bonds. "They've all got scared," said one authority to a reporter. " Seeing wine and spirit merchants hi alarm, the to* bacro people thought they would be affected next, and their activity is by no means the least. One firm alone has cleared t 4000 cases of whisky, brandy, and wine from one of the local bonds in the last ten days. You will best see what is happening when I tell you thp.t a normal quantity for that period would be perhaps a couple ol hundred cases. The bonds are not entirely depleted, but they are in a very different state to what tney were a fortnight ago."