Government Gives in On Customs Question

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1028, 19 July 1930, Page 13

Government Gives in On Customs Question

CLEARANCE RIGHTS AT FIRST PORT OF CALL THE SUN’S Parliamentary Reporter PARLIAMENT BLDGS., Today. A statement on the Customs question, which has been concerning New Zealand merchants, was made by the Prime Minister today. “With reference to the question which has arisen concerning the action of the collectors of customs in refusing to accept entries for goods until they arrive at their port of discharge from the importing ship,” he said, “the representations which have been made have received very careful consideration. As I have already stated, no scheme has yet been devised which will be fair to all the importers in New Zealand, but if alterations have to be made in the tariff, the Government desires that the procedure adopted by tha Customs Department shall not bear harshly on merchants in any particular district. “It is recognised that because of the fact that overseas vessels generally make Auckland or Wellington their first port of call, merchants in other centres may be prejudiced in competing with Northern importers, and it has been decided to accede to the requests which have been made on behalf of Southern merchants. “Instructions will therefore be issued that collectors of customs at all ports are to accept entries for ooods as soon as the importing*ship arrives at the first port of call.

“The question as to the incidence of new duties is a matter for Parliament, but in the event of tariff alterations being made, Parliament will be asked to allow section 143 of the Customs Act, 1913, to operate. Under this, goods on overseas vessels which have arrived at their first port in New Zealand will be entitled to be entered either at the old rate or at the new rate, whichever is most favourable to the importer.”