“SIEVING THE SEVENTY”

Taranaki Daily News, 5 February 1932, Page 6

“SIEVING THE SEVENTY”

NEW GAME FOIR CUSTOMS MEN WHEN IS POLLARD NOT POLLARD? NEW REGULATIONS RIDICULED. The latest edict of the Customs Department regarding the importation of pollard into New Zealand, as outlined in a letter from the Comptroller to th( New Zealand Poultry Association and reprinted in yesterday’s Taranaki Daily News, experienced an adverse reception at a meeting of the council of the Tai®* naki Chamber of Commerce last night, several of the members characterising the regulations as ridiculous. In asking for the information contained in the letter from the Comptroller the Poultry Association mentioned that it had been reported that “certain of the better qualities of pollard would be liable to be classed as wheatmeal,” and therefore liable to duty. In answer to the association’s request foi this information ,the Comptroller replied as follows; “I have now to inform you that the Minister of Customs has directed that for the purposes of the Customs Acts pollard is to be defined as follow®:

Pollard shall be a by-product obtained (merely by sifting) from 1 wheat gristed for the production of flour and shall pom ply with? the following conditions:— * (1) It shall contain not less than three-parts per centum by weight of ash, and not less than five and three-quarter parte per centum by weight of crude fibre; and (2) When 200 grammes of the material are shaken on a sieve , consisting of SXX flour silk measuring 14in. x 14in. for one minute in a mechanical shaker, or for two minutes by hand, not more than

70 grammes of the sample shall pass through the sieve. 1

“Pollard which complies with the above definition will, until further notice, be admitted from all countries free of any duty whatever.” After reading the above article in the newspaper yesterday a New Plymouth business man drafted a letter of protest to Mr. C. A. Wilkinson, M.P. The letter, a copy of which was produced at the meeting of the council of the Chamber last night, stated inter , alia:— ' ' “PUNTING ON POLLARD.* “The Comptroller of. Customs seems to have invented a new game for importers of pollard. I enclose a copy of the rules of “Punting on Pollard,” or “Sieving the Seventy,” as published in the Daily News to-day. i “Briefly put, the idea is- that every importer takes 200 grammes of pollard and shakes them in a special sieve (supplied by the Customs to its own specifications) and shakes for one minute in a mechanical shaker. “If more than 70. grammes come through the sieve, he pays flour duty (about £l2 a ton on to-day’s price); if he does not break 70, in comes the pollard duty free. “For those who prefer a game of skill a hand shaker is provided, but in this case the player must rattle two minutes. i . „■ “It is not made very clear whether the importer or the Customs officer rattles in the latter case, and as the point is so important I hope you will get it cleared up by a question in the House. “These Customs officers will get’ far more practice than the average importer, and odds laid are so outrageous that “Sieving the Seventy” is sure to be made a compulsory subject for those candidates in the Public Service Examination who wifih to join the Customs Department. “You will note in part one there is a rough chance of a loss after winning the rattle, and no doubt before long a rule will be. added, stopping smoking while the game is in progress ■to prevent the slipping in of a bit of cigarette ash. I “I take it all importers will be searched for fibre and ash before being allowed to play.” In the ensuing discussion several members expressed the opinion that Customs regulations by Order-in-Council should not be, as they sometimes were, in disagreement with the wish of Parliament. I _ Mr. G. Fraser said that the regulation under discussion seemed to have arisen out of a shipment that arrived at Auckland from Australia, and there was some argument as to whether it was pollard or-wheatmeal. He felt there was more behind the new regulation, however, than met the eye. The regulation itself seemed an absurdity/ and ‘would tend to delay the discharge and delivery of cargoes. Inspector Rawle and « Mr. Benoni White thought .it unwise to take action on th’e matter until it was ascertained that the reported regulation was official. On the motion of Mr. E. C. Hay ton, seconded by Mr. M. J. Neville, it was resolved, “that as Parliament has decreed that Australian pollard shall come into New Zealand free of duty, thia Chamber views with disfavour any unnecessary restrictions by the Customs Department affecting the free importation of pollard.” . i Inspector Rawle and Mr. Benoni White did not vote.