LOWER CUSTOMS DUES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19808, 1 December 1927, Page 14

LOWER CUSTOMS DUES.

RETURNS FOR THE YEAR. THE NOVEMBER DECREASE. WHAT THE PETROL TAX MEANS. The decrease in customs revenue collected at the Port of Auckland for the year 1927 continues. For the eleven months which have passed, it amounts to £110,481, on a comparison with the figures for 1926. Returns for the month of November ended yesterday were £179,460, compared with £193.300 in November of last year—a drop of £13,840. That, however, is not nearly so serious a falling off as was recorded last month, when collections were £77,301 behind. The present deficit in collections is partly accounted for by tho fact that withdrawals of spirits from bond are still comparatively moagre, due to excessive releases some time ago in anticipation of a tariff increase. But gradually the abnormality created by "panic" withdrawals is vanishing, and, with tho approach of the Yuletide, more substantial revenue from bond clearances of spirits may be anticipated. There is, too, the prospect of liberal customs revenue this month from the first shipments of taxable petrol, the revenue on which amounts to £4 a ton. The first of tho oil-carriers duo to arrive at Auckland under the opt ration of the new tariff is scheduled for December 4. When it is remembered that a 10,000ton consignment of benzine represents £40,000 in duty, the magnitude of the revenue to bo collected from this source may be realised. It is anticipated it will go a long way toward neutralising the decreased collections duo to slackness of trade, although even that is ndw becoming a vanishing quantity. Customs revenue figures for the first eleven months of .1927, compared with those for the corresponding period of 1926, are:—

Beer duty collected during November amounted to £12,120, compared with £12.877 for the corresponding month of last year. ,

1927. 1926. January .. £ 178,573 £ 209,989 February . '202,518 •2'20.7(S2 March 221, '231 204.700 April 157,229 211,939 M ay . . 157,770 170,348 J mie 278,887 103,282 J uly 15G.G40 180.800 August 250,061 243,711 September 221,349 231,995 October .. 147,590 2'2-S ,897 November . 170.400 193,300 Totals . . . £2,157,314 £2.207.795