THE AMERICAN DUTY ON AUSTRALIAN WOOLS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIII, Issue 7760, 5 October 1886, Page 5

THE AMERICAN DUTY ON AUSTRALIAN WOOLS.

LETTER FROM SIR J. VOGEL. (by TELEGRAPHpress association.] Christchuroh, Monday. Sir J. Vogel has written to the New Zealand Woolgrowers' Association here, in reply to a letter embodying a suggestion from the Woolgrowers' Association of Victoria, to remit the Customs duties on certain Amen* can productions in return for the admission of Australasian wool into the United States, and urging the benefit of a similar arrangement in this colony. Sir Julius doubts if Parliament would agree to repeal the duty on kerosene, especially as there seems to be a fair probability of its being obtained in large quantities in New Zealand, and considers this concession would not be of any use, unless the duty on wool in the United States were to bo simultaneously reduced. It would be extreme weakness to make the remission here unless under specific agreement that such action would lead to the remission of the wool duty. He concludes : —" The position then comes to this, that if the United States Government were empowered to enter into arrangements for reducing the rate of duty on Australasian wools would the colonies combined be prepared to consider the question of mutual concessions ? To this I have no hesitation in replying that 1 consider the importance of obtaining a market for colonial wools, unrestricted by the present heavy duties, is such that the colonies would readily endeavour to meet the views of the Government of the United States upon any proposal of a mutually fair nature."

An attached memorandum from the Secretary of the Department of Trade and Customs states that the duty collected on kerosene for 1885 was £26,391, and for the six years preceding it averaged £19,097 per year.