THE TARIFF QUESTION.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 850, 15 June 1888, Page 2

THE TARIFF QUESTION.

Copy of letter to the Colonial Treasurer, Ist Jure, 1888.

Sir,—l take the liberty of addressing you upon the subject of the new tariff, especially the item plain galvanised iron. This article hitherto has been free,- and this fact has induced manufacturers to import and erect expensive machinery to work the iron into shapes, and now find that you intend to place a duty of thirty shillings per ton upon plain sheets, but do not m ike any increase in duty upon corrugated iron. The amount of duty you will receive, as per last returns, will be on 1242 tons plain sheets at 80s, equal to LIBG3, whereas if you added 10s per ton on 6453 tons of corrugated iron, you would get L322G 10s, and would not altogether crush out those persons who have invested capital, &c., in these manufactures. The duty would thus be 30s for plain and 50* for c urugated, leaving only 20a per ton for manufacturing, in stead of 40a as hitherto, beside adding L 3226 10a to revenue. Trusting that you will give this matter your earnest cou.-_ sideration.—l remain, &c., ' Thomas Ballinger.

Copy of Letter sont to Colonial ; ; : . Treasurer.

June sbh, 1888

Sir, —Confirming mine of lst inst.,. to which as yet I have received no reply, I would now respectfully call your attention to the following, and aslc if it is intended to charge a duty upon machinery and plant for galvanising, for on carefully looking over the new and old tariffs, I aminclined to think, that the duty is to be 20 per cent ad valorem under the head of “Machinery not otherwise enumerated, unless it can be passed as “ free ” under the heading for “ Tinsmith’s use.” I would point out to you that these machines are of special make; and could not be made in the Colony, owing to the most modern' improvement in these articles not being known out here, and I hardly think it was your intention to charge a duty on such articles, unless your object is not to foster local industries, but to harass them by every means in your power. First, by taxing the raw material of manufacturers —-plain galvanised iron sheets ; and, secondly, to tax the machinery that must be imported forgalvarrzingironin the Colony. There is another item not mentioned in the hew tariff, and that is, galvanized hoop i rC)n —if plain galvanised iron is to have a duty imposed, so should the hoops. I should like your reply as to duty on galvanizing plant at ■ your earliest convenience.—l am, yours respectfully, Thomas Ballinger.