A MISUNDERSTANDING.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XCVI, Issue 14428, 19 July 1907, Page 7

A MISUNDERSTANDING.

NO DUTY ON KEROSENE. STATEMENT IN THE HOUSE. [Uiwif Our Correspond!:n t, ] WELLINGTON, July 18. In the House of Representatives this afternoon, the member for. Wellington East (Mr J. G. W. Aitkeii) stated that the Customs officers had interpreted the now tariff proposals to provide for the collection of a duty of Jd per gallon on kerosene, and that the duty was already being collected. Tho Premier said that the tariff imposed no duty -on kerosene, and tho Government did not intend to impose any duty. If anyxfalse impression existed in the minds of the Customs officers, the Minister of Customs would issue definite instructions on the point. -Mr Aitlcoa: There- has been a duty of vd per gallon pup on kerosene, under the belief that it is authorised by the new tariff, and the Customs officers have stated that they will demand the duty on the next shipment. The word kerosene does not appear in the tariff, ■and the duty is being collected under tho heading of oil. The Hon J. A. Millar : Any Customs officer who has put a duty on kerosene does not know what ho is doing. There is nothing in the tariff to make kerosene dutiable. The only duty is on crude oil. The light, refined oils, such as kerosene, are free. Later in the afternoon the Minister of Customs read a memorandum from the Customs Department, stating that its officers wore well aware that kerosene remained on the free list.