DOMINION IMPORTS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 72, Issue 287, 3 December 1929, Page 6

DOMINION IMPORTS

CORRECT FIGURES WANTED COST OF LANDING GOODS A stricter check on the Dominion ’■ imports was urged at last night’s meeting of the Wanganui Chamber of Commerce by the president, Mr A. E. Rankin. Ho referred to recent publications of figures purporting to show the value of imports, but he considered that the manner in which that information was calculated should be made to include landing charges. Goods were shown according to their value in the country of export, plus ten per cent. There wm no provision made for packing. That would amount to 5 per cent, sight draft 2| per cent, and there were were insurance and landing charges. Nothing came into this country under ten per cent and in some cases 100 per cent., some times 200 per cent., had to be added. To add an additional ten per cent to the country’s imports would mean something like four and a half millions. The payment in interest for the Dominion’s indebtedness was £5,000,009,000 and if the £4,500,000 extra cost of imports was added to that a very considerable surplus would be needed to balance. The surplus had been shown at £7,000,000. That was £4,500,000 short if the import figure was shown correctly. The speaker claimed that a correct publication of the value of imports would put a check on importations which the Dominion could not afford. Mr. W. Gilbcrd: Can you assure ns that there is no provision made for packing cost and insurance! Mr Rankin: They take the figures in your customs entry Mr H. Ze: : sler: You do’t want to boost up the value of imports do youT Mr Rankin: No, just to check them. Take steel, for instance. That doesn't come in under 33 1-3 per cent. Fencing wire has 25 per cent added and crockery, I suppose, about 50 per cent. The thing i& absurd. On the motion of Mr A. 8. Burgess the matter was referred to the Imports and Exports Committee for report.