TEA DUTIES

Southland Times, Issue 18971, 19 June 1923, Page 5

TEA DUTIES

THE GOVERNMENTS PROPOSALS (Per United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, June 18. “Tea merchants,” stated the Hon W. Downie Stewart, “are anxious to know as soon as possible, when the change in duties will take place. Ihave had inquiries made in all the chief centres, as to what length of notice will cause the least inconvenience to merchants. A large number of merchants have asked that the alteration should operate from the date the House paaaed the resolution, while a few have suggested from one month to three months’ notice. It is impossible to lay down any rule, which will not impose hardship, in some quarters, but as it has been known for some months that a change will be made, and every week’s delay, further disorganises business, I have recommended to Cabinet, that the alteration should take place as requested by most merchants, os soon as the resolutions pass the House, on the presentation of the Budget. At what date the Budget will be presented, depends on the time occupied by the Address-in-Reply, but the most definite notice I can approximate to, is that as from the presentation of the Budget and subject to the concurrence of Parliament, the duties on lea will be:—Tea in bulk, British origin, free; foreign tea in bulk, 2d i>cr lb; packet tea, British, 2d lb packet tea, foreign ,4d lb; primage 10 pet cent as usual in every case.”