THE TARIFF COMMISSION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10290, 22 February 1895, Page 3

THE TARIFF COMMISSION.

The Tariff Revision Commissioners met at the office of the Land Board at 10.30 yesterday morning, the Hon. W. J. Steward presiding, and all the members of the commission who are in the colony being present. The commissioners desire it to be undersscod that the names of witnesses are not mado public without their consent distinctly given. It should also be known, and it is requested by advertisement elsewhere, that persons who de3ire to give evidence should send in applications to be heard. This is necessary in order that due arrangements should be made for hearing witnesses without needless loss of time. Such applicants will receive intimation from the commissioners as to the time when they may attend and give evidence.—William Gregg, coffee manufacturer, gave evidence in support of increased duties on coffee essences and other preparations connected with his business — George Henry Oatway, representative of the manufacturers of Buckeye harvesters, suggested that, as single-ply binder twine was very largely used by farmers, it should be admitted duty free.—Frank Oakden, manager of the Milburn Cement Company, gave evidence in support of an increased imported duty on cement.

The commissioners sat also in the afternoon and evening. Messr3 Robert Rutherford and Robert William Rutherford, of the New Zealand Wax Vesta Company, gave evidence asking that the duty on imported wax vestas be incwased. Mr Henry S. Jones (representing P. Hayman and Co.) a6ked, on the other hand, for the reduction of the duty on imported wax vestas. Mr A. Macdonald (of M'Pheisan, Kemp, and Co.) asked that fancy boxes in which confectionery is imported be charged ad valorem instead of at per pound, explaining that ho did so as the effect would be to save trouble. Mr J. Neil, herbalist, asked that the duty on perfumes, imported in small bottles of less thau a pound, be increased, that thedutieson patent medicines, &c. be iucreased, and that manufacturers of essences and ptrfumes be ptrmitted to take the constituents out of bond in bulk iDStead of having to put the manufactures into small bottles in bond. Mr Andrew Walker, delegate from the Otago Typographical Association, gave evidence respecting the importation of matrices and stereos, and asked that imported printed supplementary matter, playbills, handbills, &c, bhould bear an imprint and pay duty, excepting pictorial illustrations that cannot be produced in the colony. The commission will tit again to-day at 10.45 a.m. in tho Land Board room.