New British Duties

Manawatu Times, Volume LV, Issue 6746, 2 January 1932, Page 7

New British Duties

REASON POR OMISSION OF TOMATOES AND BULBS British Official Wireless. RUGBY, Dec. 30. The Minister of Agriculture (Sir John Gilmour) has issued the first order imposing duties under tho Horticultural Products Emergency Customs Duties Act. The order conics into force next Tuesday, and at various dates from then on duties will be imposed on a largo variety of imported fresh fruits, fresh vegetables, flowers, foliago and rose trees.

Every item iu the schedule to tho Act is covered by the order, with tho exception of tomatoes and flower bulbs. It is understood that tomatoes were omitted owing to a suggestion that an import .duty would involve hardship to poorer people. The omission of bulbs is stated to bo due to the inability at tho present juncture of tho British industry to supply tho demands. Tho duties apply almost without exception to luxury produce, foreign fruits and which, because of climatic advantages, come in before the British crops are ready. The duties arc therefore graduated according to the state of the season. As an instance, strawberries will pay a duty of 2/6 per lb. in April and May. During the first fortnight in June the duty will be only 6d., and after June 15 nothing. Other duties are similarly for limited periods. They constitute the first duties on foodstuffs imposed by the Government,