CUSTOMS TARIFF.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1789, 20 June 1906, Page 12

CUSTOMS TARIFF.

REQUEST FOR SIMULTANEOUS OPERATION.

The Wellington Chamber of Commerce haa given a great deal of time and study of late to the question of tariff reform, and is following it up by bringing two important matters that might be worthy of consideration if Parliament desires to carry out the late Premier’s oft-repeated proposals. These are contained in a letter which has been forwarded' to the Colonial Treasurer by the secretary to the Chamber of Commerce (Mr Samuel Carroll) as follows: “Sir, —I have the honour by direction of the Council of the Chamber of Commerce* and in further reference! to the question of the remissions of Customs tariff, to forward you the subjoined copy of a resolution adopted at a recent meeting, to which I respectfully ask your favourable consideration.

“Resolution—‘That this Council is of opinion that importers throughout the colony should have the option, of pausing Customs import entries at any port at any time after the arrival of the carrying vessel at any port in the colony/ “My council also desires to express the hope that in case of the repeal or reduction of any Customs duties time shall be given to the holders of goods affected to dispose of tlieir stocks of such goods before the repeal or reduction comes into force/’ Mr Carroll, in conversation with a “Times” reporter, stated it was only right and fair that importers having goods on a certain vessel arriving at any other port in the colony should be given the privilege of being able to clear their goods as quickly as those residing at the port of arrival. Regarding the giving of due notice in case of repealing or reducing Customs duties, it will be remembered that when the duty on kerosene was reduced substantially some years ago it was done entirely without notice, and the result was that some merchants were left with large stocks on hand, on which the old and higher duty had been paid. Indeed, the IOS9 that would probably have resulted by selling at the new market price had to /be averted by effecting sales beyond the colony.