TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XL, Issue 7713, 5 December 1903, Page 2

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

(Per Press Association.)

New Plymouth, December 4, A meeting of local importers this afternoon to discuss the effect of the Preferential Tariff Bill on tea, passed a resolution, That the retail importers of New Plymouth are astonished to find that the remission, of duty on tea, to take place on March 31st, only applies to bulk tea, as this will very prejudicially affect the direct importation by the retailer as well as lower the standard of quality to the consumer. It is to be regretted because : (1) teas packed in Ceylon and other British dependencies have the additional advantage of retaining the whole of the aroma coming fiesh from the drying rooms, and are immediately hermetically sealed; (2) the facilities for. dealing with and the immediate packing of tea ia Ceylon secures to consumers better quality tea at a lower cost; (3) that the restriction of direct importation by the retailers will prejudicially affect their interests, inasmuch as it w'll force the retail trade into the hands of a few packers, resultlug in a corresponding reduction of the value to consumers. It was further resolved : That this meeting of ten importers emphatically protests against such an interference with their right to import British teas, believing that it | will tend to foster monopoly at the expense of the consumers, who, under the circumstances, would not participate in the reduction of duties as intended by the Legislature. Feeling on the subject is very strong among the trade.