NEW CUSTOMS TARIFF.

Waikato Times, Volume 102, Issue 17223, 5 October 1927, Page 8

NEW CUSTOMS TARIFF.

NOW IN FORCE. SOME FURTHER ALTERATIONS. MINISTERIAL STATEMENT, WELLINGTON, Tuesday. Several further alterations in the Customs tariff, which will come into force to-morrow, were made by the House of Representatives to-day. The additional amendments are the outcome of representations which have been made to the Minister of Customs, Hon. W. Dowmie Stewart, since the new tariff was issued, and they also seek to remove anomalies which were discovered in tbe schedule. Notable alterations are the reversion to the old rates of duty with respect to motor vehicles and cinematograph fibns. After the amending resolutions had been passed the Customs Bill was introduced by GovernorGeneral's message and read a first time.

Some of the alterations, said the Minister, were of a minor nature, while others were of considerable importance. The duties on maize bad been restored to what they were before the first set of resolutions was introduced. Another alteration was that the current domestic value of wheat and flour, including wheatmeal and similar preparations of wheat, should not be deemed to exceed the f.o.b. export cash price by more than £1 ss. The amended duties on egg pulp had been fixed at 4d per lb under the preferential tariff and 8d under the general, in order to protect the New Zealand poultryman against the importation of pulp, from Australia chiefly. In the case of floor coverings, under the first resolutions the duty on carpets was raised from 20 to 25 per cent and from 35 to 45 per cent. The main object the commission had in view was to help a very enterprising carpet manufacturer in the North.

Regarding glass bottles and jars provision was made to suspend the duties until January 1 next on jars having a capacity of eight fluid ounces, which meant that jam and similar jars required for this season's operations would be admitted free if of British manufacture.

There had been an increase of 5 per cent, in the foreign duty on roofing tiles. The duly on sheet glass was now back to the old rate.

With regard to agricultural implements, in 1921 there was an extension of the duty on certain kinds of agricultural implements and the present amendment extended it further in the direction of encouraging the manufacture in New Zealand by an increased protection. Vacuum cleaners, previously dutiable, would now be free. " The motor body duties," said the Minister, " have been restored to what they were before. This matter can be more fully debated on the Customs Bill.

THE PRSNCSPAL ALTERATIONS. ADOPTED BY THE HOUSE. WELLINGTON, Tuesday. The alterations in the customs tariff were considered by the House this afternoon. After the Minister had explained the effect of the alterations the House, agreed to the resolutions. ■ The principal changes embodied in the resolutions are set out below. The first duly quoted in each case is British and the second general. For the purpose of comparison the original proposed changes are given, with the old tariff in parentheses. The alterations arc:—

Maize. —2s and 2s (original proposal, is and 2s: old tariff, 2s and 2s). Maize, Ground.—Free and Id per lb (2s 6d per cental and 2s 6d per cental: 2s 6d per cental and 2s 6d per cental). Cocoa. —3d and 5d per lb (20 per cent, and 40 per cent.; 3d and 5d per lb). Chocolate, also cocoa or chocolate mixed with milk, etc. —25 per cent. and 45 per cent. (20 per cent, and 40 per cent.; 3d and 5d per lb).

Confectionery, n.e.i.—25 per cent, and 4 5 per cent. (20 per cent, and 40 per cent.: 2d, 3d and 20 per cent, and 3d, 5d and 35 per cent.).

Egg Pulp.—2s per cent., or 4d per lb, and 4 5 per cent, or 8d per lb, whichever is the higher (25 per cent, and 45 per cent.; 20 per cent, and 35 per cent.). Rennet, n.e.i.—lo per cent, and 20 per cent, (free and 20 per cent.; free and free). Floor Mats and Floor Rugs, containing animal fibre, not exceeding 60 square feet. —25 per cent, and 4 5 per cent. (25 per cent, and 45 per cent.; 20 per cent, and 35 per cent.). Inlaid Linoleum, Cork Carpets, Rubber Flooring and Floor Mats, of similar materials. —20 per cent, and 40 per cent. Other linoleums, n.e.i., until .June 30, J 028, 20 per cent, and 40 per cent., thereafter free, and 20 per cent. The effect of this alteration is to exclude from the proposed concession of duty ail but linoleums, n.e.i. In the original proposals the reduction of duty next year was to apply to linoleums and similar floor cloth, mats, matting and floor rugs of rubber or similar material.

Carpets, Floor Rugs, Mats and Matting, n.e.i.—2o per cent, and 40 per cent. (25 per cent, and 45 per cent.; 20 per cent, and 35 per cent.). Syphon Bottles for Aerated Waters, Opal Glass jars, n.e.i.: —Free and 20 per cent, (new item). Bottles and Jars exceeding eight fluid ounces.—Until December 31, 1927, free and 20 per cent., thereafter 15 per cent, and 35 per cent. This postpones the operation of the duty to the date named.

Glass and Earthern Roofing Tiles.— 10 per cent, and 30 per-cent. (10 per cent, and 25 per cent.; 10 per cent, and 20 per cent.).

"Sheet Glass and Glass Rods and Tubing.—Free and 10 per cent, (free and 20 per cent.; free and 10 per cent.). Cinematograph Films.—Free and Id a foot (free and 3d a foot; free and id a foot). Wrapping Paper, lighter in substance than J-ounce per sheet of 20in by 15in.—Gs Gd per cwt or 20 per cent., and 10s 6d per cwt or 50 per cent., whichever is the higher. This is a modification of the original proposal, which places specific duties of Gs Gd and 10s Gd on sheets not less than 20in by I Sin, and ad valorem duties of 25 per cent, and 55 per cent. on smaller sizes.

Carbon Paper, large sizes.—Free and 20 per cent, (free, and free; free and 20 per cent.). Carbon Paper, small sizes.—2o per cent, and 40 per cent. (20 per cent, and 40 per cent.; 20 per cent, and 35 per cent.). Cultivators, Ha'rrovvs, Ploughs, Drills, Seed and Fertiliser Sowers or Distributors, Lime Sowers, Seed or Grain Gleaners, and Cellular Seed or Grain Separators.—lo per cent, and 35 per cent. Under the original proposals some of these items were to (Continued hi next calumnJ

be 10 per cent, and 20 per cent., and others free and free. Other Agricultural Machinery, including Hand-worked Ploughs, Cultivators, and Seed Drills; also Mould Board Plates, Unbent Steel Share Plates cut to pattern, Skeith Plates, Plough Beam Forgings and Discs for Harrows or Ploughs.—Free and free (as originally proposed, but with new details in the definition of the item).

Electric Vacuum Gleaners.—Free and 20 per cent. (20 per cent, and 40 per cent.; 20 per cent, and 35 per cent.).

Motor Vehicles, —The new proposals abandoned.

Timber.—Quercus, Alba and Quercus, Garryana are removed from the free list.