THE NEW TARIFF.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 8615, 3 August 1895, Page 2

THE NEW TARIFF.

Wellington Jewellers Protesting.

(Per United Press Association.)

WELLINGTON, August 2,

A deputation representing the Welling ton jewellery trade waited on Hon Mr* Ward to protest against the proposed alterations of the tariff affecting the trade.

It was pointed oat that if there wai any increaie in duty it would not pay to manufacture jewellery here. Jawellsrs would have to send their designs Home and get them made up there, it paying j better to pay the 25 per cent, duty on ! finished articles and take advantage of the lower Home rates for manufacturing. Were duty imposed on praoions etones, this would be the only colony ia whick euch a duty now existed. There was such a duty for four years in Victoria, but as nothing was paid under it and stones were smuggled, while traders had to oease direct importation and buy from various people who smuggled tb* stones in, the duty waa removed. Tkere was also such a dnty at one time in N«w Zea(land, but only £30 was paid under it, any stones used being brought in through illegitimate channels and then Bold to jewellers. As for duty on jewellery it was at present as high aa it could stand. Purchasers had already to give the Government 22i per cent. To give more would simply be to seriously injure the.trade. The Colonial Treasurer said he would give Misrepresentations of the deputation his favourable consideration. It was a very difficult matter, aa very great pressure had been brought on the Government to put on this extra duty on jewellery «ud duty on stones. ' C'HBISTCHUKCH, August 2. By a landslip at Pigeon Bay this morning the bouse of Snudsen was awapt away and the road to the wharf completely blocked. No lives were lost, Knudsen having removed his furniture and family about three weeks ago when fissures appeared in the hill aide above his place.