CALLIOPE DOCK PLANT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15729, 2 October 1914, Page 7

CALLIOPE DOCK PLANT.

PAYMENT OF DUTY* REFUNDS DISCONTINUED. [BT TELEGRAPH— COHSESPOJJDESI] Wellington, Thursday. Is a question put to the Minister for Customs, the Eon. F. M. B. Fisher, today, Mr. Bradney (Auckland West) asked ■whether the duty charged on machinery for the Calliope Dock, Auckland, would be remitted. He said that this dock is specially equipped for the use of the Admiralty, and its machinery should be exempted from duty.

Mr. Fisher replied that the Government has already refunded to the Auckland Harbour Board all duty on machinery necessary for the first equipment, of the Calliope Dock in accordance with the agreement with the Admiralty. The board has received refunds amounting to over £6400 on this account. It receives, in addition, a subsidy of £5000 per annum from the Admiralty. The revenue from the dock during the two years ended June, 1914, amounted to £4415, and only £525 out of this amount was received as fees from war vessels, three of which were docked during that lime, as against 35 trading vessels and three visits from the cable steamer Iris. Under the circumstances stated, the Government could not indefinitely®continue to favour the Calliope Dock in the matter of remission of duty as '.against the docks at ttelton and Port Chalmers.