REVIEW BY MINISTER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20623, 23 July 1930, Page 15

REVIEW BY MINISTER.

GOVERNMENT'S OBJECTIVE.

LESS IMPORTS EXPECTED.

; MAKING up deficiency.

i' ! FOSTERING EMPIRE TRADE

[PT TELEGRAPH. —SPECIAL REPORTER.] ■WELLINGTON, Tuwday.

A statement. ot> the proposals of the f overnment with respect to the customs Inriff was made by the Prime Minister and Minister of-Customs, the Hon. (>. W. Ferbe?, when tVia customs resolution-' ctme before the Rouse of Representatives <!ii> evening.

" The principal object of the alteralinn" proposed in the tariff is to make provision for the collection of tlie revenue required for carrying on the government of the country, said Mr. >'mbes. "1 think that if (lie proposals pre longer delayed the result uiijrlit- be that further goods in excess of normal requirements might be cleared and tlnn defeat the intentions of the resolutions. Thi* micrht have the result of necessitating further increases in the customs taxes.

With lexpect to the increase of the row duties it is proposed to ask Parliament to adopt the piovis:>n3 of fcject -n 143 of the Customs Act, JJI3, and villi to goods already ltnpoited, v,hich ha\c not been entered for warehouse, to allow them to be. entered at the eld rate or the new rate, whichever is most favourable to the importer. Objectives Outlined. "The objects of the alterations arc «s follow;■: "(I) To provide for the collection of increased revenue. "(2; To abolish primage duty and subs', ilute a surtax on dutiable good?". "(3') To grant a further measure of protection to the timber and to certain tanning and mnnu'.actui ing indujtries. "(4) To take power by means of incicased duties ori foreign goods to grant further preference on British Kinpiro goods, arid at the same lime to place ourselves in a position to negotiate with countries which are willing to treat. New Zealand products fairly in tho matter of tariffs. '■(.s) To abr.li h the duty oji barley tr-er] f, : , r ttot-l: food. "(6) To obtain increased revenue from petrol for the maiu highways account. Lower Prices lor Products. "Owing to the low prices obtained recently for some'of our staplo products in tiio markets oi tho world, and tho pvehanjre, restrictions, ivl»<-h have been imposed by the banking institutions, it is expected that there will, during the present iinancial year, be a considerable decrease in the importation of goods and <onseqtjeritly m the amount, <>t revenue obtained through the Customs Pepartment. It r, not necessary to anticipate the Budget hv setting out the financial position of the Oominion, but it is essential that a sum of £9.145,000 should be collected from customs and excise duties iinc|iiriiu_' dutv on ,\ew Zealand brewed beer, but not including petiol Xa\ or I \,i ax j. ' If no alter,ii ion ; v. ere made, in Ihe legislation now on I he. .Statute Book it is considered th.it the revenue which the * ustoms Department would collect by ,ivay of customs and excise duties during 'he present financial year would be as nudei :—('llctruns and ev ise duties (other than beer duty) 1:7,750.000, beer duly ££>oo,ooo. Total £8,350,000 This means 'hat an amount of about £BOO,OOO must be obtained. bv way of increased customs and ex.-iso duties. Even if this extra amount is collected the total received will approximately £570,000 less than that collected l.i. t vear from the same sources. Sources of Increased Revenue. "It is proposed that this increased Jfveriue should |, l; obtained :---(1) From fl n increase in the duly on foreign goods; (-) tiom a surtax to produce, revenue in excess of primage duty; (3) from an increase of duty on cigarettes and cigarette tobacco, both imported and locally ynade; ( 4) by taking steps to prevent the •inroads upon the revenue caused by the .present duties on imported leaf tobacco ■and on locally manufactured tobacco and cigarettes; (5) by abolishing tho allowance for under proof spirits and (6) by the duty on JSew Zealand ifewwed beex>.'i