A.—B.

14

Enclosure in No. 9. Mr. Palmer to Lord Noemanby. Mi Lord, — Colonial Secretary's Office, Brisbane, 21st August, 1872. I have the honor to inform your Lordship that the Circular Despatch from the Secretary of State for the Colonies of the 19th April last, upon the question of a Q-eneral Customs Union of the Australian Colonies, has been submitted for the consideration of the Cabinet; and we are of opinion that a Customs Union at present, and probably for many years to come, would not be to the interests of this Colony, and at any rate should be preceded by a .Federal Union of the Colonies interested. But, although a General Customs Union of the Australian Colonies may not be considered advisable, we are also of opinion that these Colonies should have the power, when it becomes desirable to exercise it, to make reciprocal tariff arrangements with each other. The Government, however, have not thought this matter of sufficient urgency to induce them to introduce any measure upon the subject during the present Session. I have, Ac, A. W. Palmer.

No, 10. " The Australian Colonies Duties Act, 1873," as passed by the House of Commons, May 2nd. An Act to amend the Law with respect to Customs Duties in the Australian Colonies. Whereas it is expedient to amend the law with respect to Customs Duties in the Australian Colonies : Be it enacted by the Queen's Most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows: — 1. This Act may be cited as " The Australian Colonies Duties Act, 1873." 2. In this Act the term " Australian Colonies " shall mean the Colonies of New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Queensland, Western Australia, and Tasmania. The term " country " shall mean any country or place except Australian Colonies and the Colony of New Zealand. 3. The Legislature of any one of the Australian Colonies shall, for the purpose of carrying into effect any agreement between any two or more of the said Colonies, or between any one or more of the said Colonies and New Zealand, have full power from time to time to make laws with respect to the remission or imposition of duties upon the importation into such Colony of any article the produce or manufacture of or imported from any other of the said Colonies, or the produce or manufacture of or imported from New Zealand. Provided always, that for the purpose aforesaid, no new duty shall be imposed upon, and no existing duty shall be remitted as to, the importation into any of the Australian Colonies of any article, the produce or manufacture of any particular country, which shall not be equally imposed upon, or remitted as to, the importation into such Colony of the like article the produce or manufacture of any other country: Provided, further, that no duties shall be levied upon articles imported into any of the Australian Colonies for the supply of Her Majesty's land or sea forces, nor shall any duty be levied or remitted contrary to or at variance with any treaty or treaties for the time being subsisting between Her Majesty and any foreign Power. By Authority: Gioiqi Didsboet, Government Printer, Wellington.—lB73. [Priet 9d.]