FIJI’S TARIFF RATES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 139, 15 June 1931, Page 9

FIJI’S TARIFF RATES

AMENDMENTS APPROVED I I AUSTRALIAN LIST INCREASES j BENEJ'T’J’ TO NEW ZEALAND SUVA, June 3. I The Legislative Council, which mot. on June 1, passed through all its stages an amending Customs Bill, which has the effect of removing Australia from the tariff rates applying to New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Canada and Hongkong. The rates for these countries arc now known as the scheduled list and do nnt differ from those of 1928. Australia comes singly under a new list called British preference, the rates being higher than those on the scheduled list. The figures for the items affected by the bill arc as follows, the general rates, British preference and the scheduled list being given in order:— Ale, porter, etc (more than 2 per cent), in bottles, 6s, ss, 4s; ale, porter, etc., (more than 2 per cent), in jars or wood, ss, 4s, 3s; bacons and hams (ad valorem), 40 per cent., 30, 20; biscuits (sweet), 40 per cent., 30, 20; bran, 40 per cent., 30, 20; cheese, 40 per cent., 30, 20; confectionery (per lb), Gd, 44d, 3d, and, in addition, 25 per cent., 10. 10; flax and hemp, 40 per cent., 30, 20; fish, 40 per cent., 30, 20; dried fruit, 40 per cent., 30, 20; fresh fruit, 20 per cent., 10, free; golden syrup and treacle, 40 per cent., 30, 20; grease, tallow and fat, 36 per cent., 20, 10; hay and chaff, 40 per cent., 30, 20; hops (per lb), Is Gd, Is. 9d; jams and jellies, 35 per cent., 20, 10; lard and dripping, 40 per cent,, 30, 20; pipes (earthenware), 35 per cent., 20, .10; fresh vegetables, 20 per cent,, 10, free; laundry soap (bar or cake) and sandsoap (per lb), 2d, 14d, Id; other soap, 40 per cent., 30, 20.

The chief complaint against the tariffs has come from beer drinkers. Australian beer is almost the only beer drunk in Fiji, and consumers fear the price will rise.

| In has address to the council the Governor of Fiji and High Commissioner for the Western Pacific, Sir Murchison Fletcher, said the intention of the schedule of New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Canada and Hongkong was reciprocity with all parts of the Empire, which extended to Fiji treatment not loss favourable than that given by New Zealand. By an agreement which had been accepted by New Zealand, Fiji had undertaken to establish preferential and ordinary British tariffs, and a general rate. New Zealand, on its part, had agreed to admit, free of duty, Fijian bananas, cocoanuts, pineapples and other fruits so: admitted. Now Zealand had reserved the right to impose primage duty on such goods of Fijian origin, the Governor proceeded, in the event of such duty being imposed on similar goods imported from other countries, the products of which came under the British preferential tariff. The New ?’«1 Government had expressed regret that, in vie the financial condnions < ■►(.cuing in the Dominion, it could not at. present admit Fijian canned pineapples and fresh tomatoes duty free, and so did not propose to task the Fijian Government for certain reciprocal concessions which had been suggested. It was hoped New Zealand eventually would be able to concede the point. ”It is hardly necessary fur me tv remind local merchants that the permanence of the agreements with the Dominion depends upon t.ho measure of our purchase of New Zealand goods,” added Sir Murchison.