THE NEW SOUTH WALES TARIFF.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 10007, 19 December 1895, Page 4

THE NEW SOUTH WALES TARIFF.

Probably the alteration that has been made during the last few months in the tariff of New South Wales, is the most important political event of the year for the colonies. If the change is successful in increasing the commerce of New South Wales—and there can be very little doubt that it will be so— oilier colonies will be compelled, as soon as possible, and as closely as possible, to follow tho example. Tho New South Wales tariff is divided into sections. There is first the " Permanent • tariff," to come into operation on January 1, under which the following articles are dealt with;— Spirits, wines beer, tobacco, cigars and cigarettes,' opium. Even on these articles, which are all legitimate subjects for taxation for revenue purposes, tho duties are much lower than with our tariff. Then there is a section of "Diminishing duties," under which we have candles, oils, biscuits, confectionery, fruits, jams and jellies, preserves, and canned fruits. For instance, from the Ist January, 1896, candles are to be charged Id per lb; from July, 1897, jjd; from Ist July, 1899, free. Jams and jellies are to be charged Id ; from Ist July, 1898, id; from Ist July, 1900, free. After 1900 all the articles m the section of diminishing duties are to bo absolutely free. The following articles are to be subject to duties to the 30th June, 1896, and no longer .--Butter, butterine; cement, plaster, and hydraulic lime: cheese, bacon, bacon partially cured or green, and ham, potted meats and meat extracts, chicory, chocolate cornflour, cocoa, coffee, fish, iron, milk, powder and shot, rice, salt, timber. On this last article the duties are to be till they terminate in June next: Timber, dressed, per 100 feet sup. 3s ; rough and undressed, la 6d: palings, per 100, Is ; pickets, dressed, per 100 feet sup., 3s; doors, sashes, and shutters, eaohSs. After the 30thof June, 1896, all these articles are free. The grain duties, including barley, beans, maize, oats, peas, and wheat, Hour, bran, pollard, and sharps, hay, chaff, and

strawi.iSuians, and potatoes, are to cease At the end of the year, and it may naturally be expected that there will be » considerable exportation of these articles from New Zealand. It is profitable for »is to have a market in Now South Wales, because our wheat, grown in a comparatively moist climate, does not carry well. The scheme for an exclusive reciprocity treaty with South Australia has broken down, and we shall certainly derive far more benefit from cultivating the trade with our mother-colony.