THE CUSTOMS TARIFF

North Otago Times, Volume VI, Issue 121, 14 June 1866, Page 2

THE CUSTOMS TARIFF

The Dunedin Chamber of Commerce have adopted the following report of the Sub-Committee which was some time since appointed to consider the question of tlao Tariff :— That, in accordance with the instructions of the Chamber, information was obtained as to the articles on which duty is being charged, which do not appear to have been intentionally included as dutiable by the Legislature ; and that a memorial upon the subject has been addressed to the hon. the Collector of Customs, to which, as yet, no reply has been received. On the subject of the revision of the Tariff, a scheme has been drawn out for a new Tariff, on tho basis that the piesont Customs Kevenue must bo maintained id amount. The Sub-Committee, therefore has to suggest : — 1st. That the measurement duties be reduced to 2s 6d per foot, to extend over the following article? :— Apothecaries' wares and chemicals, boots and shoes, brushware and perfumery, drapery and clothing, harness and saddlery, musical instruments, oilmen'* stoies and bottled fruits, toys and fancy goods. 2nd. That the duties charged by weight be reduced to 3s per cwt, to iuclude the following ai tides :— Candles, j cheese, butter, hams and bacon, rice, soap, sago, and arrowroot, shot. 3rd. That tho duty on malt liquors should be made uniform, at Is per gallon, whether iu bulk or in bottle. 4th. That the duty on wine should be uniform, os per gallon, whether in bulk or in bottle. 5th. That the duty upon dried fruits should be Id per lb, in place of the present measurement duty. fith. That tho following items of tho present Tariff should be retaiued intact:— Arms, at 5s each; gunpowder, at 3d per lb ; coffee, &c, at 3d do ; sugar, at Id do ; tea, at 6d do ; sphits, at 12s per gallon; tobacco, at 2s Gd per lb ; cigar*, at 4s Cd do. 7th. That the following special duties should be levied :— On watches, if gold, 10a each ; if silver, 2s Gd each : on jewellery, gold or silver plated, 10s per oz ; on jewelleij, silver or silvei plated, Is Gd per oz ; on woolpacks, 6d each ; on coin and other sacks, Id each ; on co.il, 2a 6J per ton ; on furniture, 3d per cubic foot measurement ; on malt, Id per bushel ; on hops, 2d per lb ; on galvanised sheet iron, L2 per ton ; on mineral (ills, 3d per gallon ; on timber, Js per 100 feet; on palings, posts, &c, Is perlOO; on shingles, Is per 1000; on cutlery, 83 per cwt; on plated ware, 20s per cwt; on opium, 20s per lb. An estimate has been made of the revenue which would have accrued at this port during the past year, had the above rates been levied, which will be laid before the Chamber. Tho total— L179, 772 11s lOd— differs very slightly from that collected under the present Tariff. The Chamber subsequently rescinded a resolution carried at a previous meeting, recommending an ad valoiem duty on jewellery, and, on the suggestion of Mr Bath^ate, agiecd to leave tho question of amount of duty on imported vehicles of various kinds to the Government. It was considered anomalous that vehicles should be imported free, while the materials for their construction were subject to duty. Seveial modifications before recommended were also adopted — viz., that the duty on opium be 12s per lh, instead of 20s, and that every article included in the report bo specifically enumerated, so th.it no discretion shall be left to tho Custom-house officers.