SOUTH AFRICA'S TARIFF.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13278, 10 September 1906, Page 3

SOUTH AFRICA'S TARIFF.

HOW AUSTRALASIA IS AFFECTED. South African files give complete particulars of the new Customs tariff agreed upon by tho conference between the South African c'">iies as compared with the Convention tariff of 1903. The rates of duty are generally raised. A preferential rebate is changed from 2£ per cent, to 3 per cent, on ad valorem duties, and the scope of preference is extended to a number of duties at fixed, rates. Wheat is to be dutiable at Is 2d per 1001b, less 2d rebate, or Is net,, being the same as before, but flour is raised from 2s to 2s 3d net', and the effect is to increase protection to South African 'milk*; using imported wheat, as against the importation of flour from Australasia and elsewhere. Assuming that 50 bushels of wheat, or 30001b, are required to make one ton or 20001b of flour, the duty on the former will be 30s and on the latter 45s (after deducting 5s preferential rebate), as against 30s and 40s respectively under the old tariff. One feature of the recent, business in! Australian flour for South Africa has been the demand for 61b and 121b bags. The method of calculating the duty on flour provides that packages of flour or wheatmeal containing not less than 901b, and not more than 1001b, are to be deemed to be 1001b. This provision appears calculated to discourage the 981b package. ' "'■■., The duties on meats and lard are practically unchanged. Following the re- ; imposition of the meat duties, farmers have raised the price of sheep by 3s per head. As regards the meat .duty, however, attention is to be paid to clause 12 of the "Convention, which empowers any individual colony to suspend in whole or part, the collection of the duty upon fresh, chilled, and frozen meat, and on animals I for slaughter for consumption within its own jurisdiction. The following is a comparison of the duties on articles in which Australia is chiefly interested at the old rates and at the new rates, with rebates: — i > _.^..^ 4^,„-„..»_ .,,..-,-.»:,,- OW "' : New Rates: Article. Duty. Duty. Rebate. 8. (1. S. i.l. 8. (1. Butter, lb 0 2 0 2£ 0 0) Butterine, lb 0 2 0 2J 0 01 Margarine, lb 0 2 0 2i 0 0i Confectionery, lb ' ... ... 0' 2•0 24 0' Oi Wheat, grain, 1001b ... ...10 12' 02 Do., ground. 1001b 2 0 2 9 0 3 Bran, wheaten, 1001b ... — 12 0 2 Fruits, preserved, etc., lb ... 0 2 0 2i 0 0| Fruits, dried, lb 0 2 0 2\ 0 0$ Lards, etc., lb ... 01 0 1; 0 01 Meats, lb ... 0 1 0 1.0 0} Milk, condensed, etc., 1001b 4 2 5 2.10. Do. skimmed milk, lb ... 0 Oi 0 6 Nil. Onions, lb ... " ... ... 0 ; oi' 0 o,', Nil. Potatoes, 1001b ..< 2 0" 0 2 Soap, etc., 1001b 4'2 4 9 0 7 Or ad valorem Nil. 25 p.c. 2 p.o. Sugar, refined. 1001b \ ... 3 6 4 6 Nil. Do., refined, 1001b ..t ... 5 0 3 6 Nil. Do., candy, loaf, etc J. 1001b 5 0 5 0 Nil. Biscuits, cakes, puddings, and pastry ... ... * 2a p.c. 3 p.c. Harness and saddlery, not >.■ . including riding '*• 25 p.c. ' 3 p.c. Oils, essential or perfumed, including eucalyptus ... 25 p.c. 25 p.c. • 3 p.c. •Not separately specified in old tariff. The list of 3 per cent, duties includes fruits, fresh or Teen (including cocoanuts), hops, vegetables, fresh or green (but not including garlic, potatoes, and onions, which are otherwise dutiable), and wood unmanufactured, and ceiling and flooring boards, planed, tongued, and grooved. The 3 per cent. dm— on these and other goods is rebated under the preferential arrangement. There is a fairly extensive free list, followed by a general ad valorem duty of 15 per cent.," less 3 per cent, rebate (on goods not elsewhere charged with duty, and not specified in the list). To calculate the duty at ad valorem rates the current value of goods to be taken is to be the true current value in open market for similar goods at the place of purchase, bought in the ordinary manner from manufacturers or suppliers iu normal quantities, including the cost of packing and packages, but not including agents' commission, if it does not exceed 5 per cent.; provided that in no caeo shall the true current value, as above defined, be less than the cost of the goods to'the importer at the place of purchase.