THE NEW TARIFF.

Marlborough Daily Times, Volume IX, Issue 20902, 19 May 1887, Page 2

THE NEW TARIFF.

Per Press Association. Christchurch, May 17. The Christchurch Chamber of Commerce has passed the following resolutions re Customs proposals :—r That in the opinion of this Chamber, the alterations in the tariff proposed in the Financial Statement are from an economic standpoint not such as should be adopted for the avowed purposes of securing additional revenue and the promotion of local industries ; (2) That presuming it to be necessary to raise increased revenue by means of Customs duties, such object could be attained in a manner to fall most equitably and easily on all classes ol the community, and to interfere least with general trade, by imposing additional levies on tea and sugar, wines, cigars and tobacco together with articles strictly in the nature of luxuries. Increased duties upon articles that can be manufactured loeally must necessarily restrict importation and reduce the revenue. (3 That in any case where it may be deemed politic to afford incidental assistance to any local industry under tariff for revenue purposes, it is, in the opinion of this Chamber, unwise to fix any higher duty than 15 per cent ad valorem as the maximum, or its equivalent where the duty is charged by •« weight, {4) Bnt the prop >al to impose duties on certain articles and implements used in the principal natural industries, viz, agriculture,sheep farming and mining is Specially burdensome to those interests, and is on the face of it an economio inconsistency, seeing tlmt the too fi in trade used in secondary and incidental industries are admitted free. (5) 'I hat it is inadvisable and unjust to alter the basis of application of the duty ou spirits from proof to liquid gallons. (0) That if there were fewer classifications the interpretation would he made easier and the cost of collection of duties reduced. That in the opinion of this Chamber the Colonial Treasurer’s proposals that there should he also no exemption on properties exceeding L 2500 in value, and that the tax on them should be one penny, if» inequitable, and if it becomes law, it will cause the incidence of taxation to press unfairly upon all classes of the community.” “ That, if it is necessary to obtain additional revenue from property tax, a more equitable method than that now proposed would be to reduce the exemption to L2OO, and to allow the same in all classes.” The Protection Association have passed resolutions approving the proposed Customs duties 011 articles which can ho manufactured or grown in the Colony, hut disapproving the duties on raw materials or articles which cannot bo grown or manufactured here.