UNSTAMPED KEROSENE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVI, Issue 16952, 3 September 1915, Page 5

UNSTAMPED KEROSENE.

DIFFICULTIES TO BE OVERCOME. [From Our Correspondent.] WELLINGTON, Septemoer 2. The member for Egmont asked the Minister of Finance this afternoon if something could be done in the case oi ; those firms who had to compete against kerosene duty paid prior to the tariff, which was being sent forward without any brand. Ho declared that complaints were coming in from an over the country. • Sir Joseph Ward replied that there was always a certain amount, of trade disturbance when Customs alteration., were made. Before the stamos for branding were authorised a portion of cargo from one vessel was landed in WeLinfton. Stamps were now being distributed throughout the country, and tho regulations would apply as from August 26. Later on, when the Taxation Bill came before the Hou:e, he proposed to discuss the whole position The fact that certain merchants had no oil when the change was made and were now importing it was very unfortunate for the merchants. Such cases would be very deserving ones for consideration, but there could bo no differentiation. There were bound to be case? of hardship that could not be avoided, and there were bound to be difficulties impossible to overcome when a change of the kind took place. There were also difficulties in connection with the retailers, but ho had no doubt that before the matter was finished they would be able to arrive at a basis which, on the whole, would be satisfactory to most of the people concerned. .

No announcement lias been made in Christchurch yet as to when the war tax will be added to the price of kerosene in the city, but the wholesale importing companies are still regulating tho quantities they supply to grocers, and grocers are refusing to fulfil large orders from their customers. The instillation of the Lake Coleridge electric scheme has largely decreased the consumption of kero-ene in the citv. The Gas Company's policy in estending its ma'rs far into suburban a.mis has operated in the snme direction. It is estimated thnt the total ottantity u«ed in Christchurch and the suhnrbs now is quite one-third less than tho quantity used thret* "-enrs r<to.