AUSTRALIAN TARIFFS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17409, 6 November 1930, Page 8

AUSTRALIAN TARIFFS

SHARING THE BURDEN GOVERNMENT LOSES £16,000 (Elec. Tel. Copyright—Onitod Press Assn.) (Received Nov. 6, 2 jj.iti.) SYDNEY, Nov. fi. Mr. Fordo, assistant .Minister of Customs, iii tabling the tariff increases and resolutions, said there would be no justification for asking the public to pay the whole of the tea tax. The same applied to rubber, and the Government was confident that the oil companies would carry the Id a gallon duty on kerosene and lubricating oils. A representative of a large importing firm is of the opinion that there will be ho immediate increase in coffee prices following the new duties, which he considered a form of taxation preferable to income tax, and more cheaply collected.

The. steamer Barra bool arrived at Brisbane yesterday from India and Ceylon. When' news of (be impending tea tax spread a wireless nVessage was sent to the ship, which carried J.CCO.OOOIbs of tea for various States. She speeded up and in an exciting race against the clock reached port in time to enable the cargo to be cleared before the, customs office closed, and the tea thus entered duty free, arid the Government lost over £116,000.