SILK TAXES.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 21 May 1925, Page 5

SILK TAXES.

WHAT IS PROPOSED

MR. CHURCHILL ANSWERS QUESTIONS.

BY CABLE—PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPY LIGHT,

LONDON, May 19. The Chancellor- of the Exchequer (Mr. Winston Churchill), who presided a,t a meeting 'at the Treasury of the committee of silk trade interests to consider the proposed scale- of • .silk duties, was bombarded in the House of Commons with questions on the subject. He told one questioner that duty Yvoukl not be charged on any silk or artificial silk articles worn by passengers entering the country. Reasonable allowances would he made with regard to article* in personal luggage. Thereupon Miss Wilkinson (Labour) pointed out that this would only benefit women able to -buy their dresses abroad. Mr. Churchill, in another reply, said wood pulp was only liable- to duty when converted into artificial silk. He did not think t-lie tariff would in any way affect the free import of raw material for paper. Another questioner, who said artificial silk was made from cellulose acetate, which was already taxed under the German reparations scheme, was. referred by Mr. Churchill to the Safeguarding of Industries Act. The Chancellor also quoted the latter Act to another questioner, whom he informed. that where 'articles liable to the new import duty were also liable to other duties, these duties' would oe merged and tlie greater duty only charged. -