IRISH WHISKY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22060, 16 September 1933, Page 4

IRISH WHISKY

EXTRA DUTY COMPLAINT. (From Ope Own Correspondent.) LONDON, August 5. The following reference to Irish whisky sent to New Zealand appears in the Dublin paper, Irish Independent;— The Department of External Affairs ate looking into the whole question," an Irish Independent reporter was offi-, cially informed when he made an , inquiry with reference to the complaint of Messrs John Jameson and Son that no action had been taken by the Government to remove the extra duty of 3* 4d on cases of bottled whisky exported by their firm to New Zealand, though seven months had elapsed since -the matter was first brought under tha notice of a Government department. Senator Jameson said that the first he heard about the extra duty was in December last, and his firm at once wrote to the Department of Industry and Commerce —not to the Department of External Affairs —about the matter, but got no satisfaction. We made inquiries ourselves in London, he continued, and finally we got in, touch with the High Commissioner for New Zealand, who stated that the matter was one for diplomatic negotiations between the two countries. Ha suggested that representations should be made by the Free State authorities to the New Zealand Government oa the matter, and stated that there was power to take off the extra duty, as had been done in the ease of Scotch and English whiskys. We have now asked the Department of Industry and Commerce if they cannot deal with it themselves to send our correspondence to the proper department, the Senator added. ( The New Zealand trade of the firm is important; and is likely to be further developed if the handicap of the extra duty is removed.