THE NEW TARIFF

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18628, 25 July 1930, Page 2

THE NEW TARIFF

DRAPERY BUSINESS. The drapery business is likely to be affected a good deal by the new tariffs. A prominent draper yesterday stated that the new rates must affect consumers considerably. Referring to British apparel and hosiery, he said that the gross duty under the old tariff was 285 per cent., but the new duty would be 37J per cent., an increase of approximately nine per cent. The total duty on foreign goods under the old tariff was 515 per cent., whereas under the new tariff it would be 67a per cent. Under these circumstances, he said, it stood to reason that in a good many instances the consumer would have to suffer. This opinion was endorsed by another draper, who said that the present increases, coming on top of the recent increase in the Bank charges, was going to make things fairly hard. So far as household lines are concerned, the position is a little easier, because they have been relieved of the primage duty. Application Of Surtax. A good deal of doubt seems to exist regarding the application of the surtax. As a result of an inquiry made by a “ Herald ” representative, information was elicited from the Customs Department to the effect that the nine-for-tieths was chargeable on the duty only. All free goods are absolutely free. Hitherto certain classes of free goods were subject to the primage duty, but this has now been removed.