AGAINST THE PRIMAGE DUTY.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 664, 15 November 1909, Page 6

AGAINST THE PRIMAGE DUTY.

V> '■■(By);TcltataßU-BjiwliUV'OorreiDo'Bu'enti ■■' ..'; ■;■« -,'.' V- ■•',': '■■ , ANflPior, Novmnjber 14;-''' ','-'. : Owing'w a'..severe attack of rHeujdatism.tha,' member;7or'Napier,'Mr..J;'.Vigpr!Brqwn,:haa ■ not Wen able' to take any, part ill Parliamen-'.' . tary affairs during tho present session; although" '■•'• he has now sufficiently, recovered as.to, anticipate being .able to take his. seat in'the'House -; next week. As Mr, Brown is recognised-to be one of the fighting,forces of "tho Trado" in the -••'.; North Island, his views upon tho compromise ■•'. with ( tho No r Licenso, party; were considered of ;' i sufficient'importance'to justify his being approached,with a request for an. interview by ■ your correspondent. Mr. Brown, however, wa» , , not to be drawn;''-'-Bo Baid. that although ho had been. identified with tho negotiations. conducted by Dr. Firidlay, ill-health had prevented him attending the final; conference,, and he therefore preferred, not to express an opinion " upon-the; proposed; legation until the con-. creto,.amendment came before the House for > consideration; .....'.-. ..■::. • Asked.for.an.expression of opinion^upon.th'a;. -'■ ■:,'■■' Financial Statement, .Mr.. Brown said; As far.-■'■ bb I can at present see; everything in the Bud- > get : is fairly satisfactory, with' tho exception of; ono . proposal. to . which I strongly object. I: -, refer, to -the imposition through tho Customs .■.•■( of a tax; of. 1 per cent, on. all dutiable goods., It is bolievod that.by moans of thistai some-; - '■'.' thing liko X50,000:will bo raised, butl may . -. say that I.am. opposed, to. any.legislation that ~ 'will'increase Customs revenue by moans of an ■■ ■•; addition on .the. cost.of living..',- If the sum of "'. .' ,£50,000 is wquired for purposes of general rev'»i- '■ cnue, thon I think, if the Customs is to,, bo called upon, it'flhould-bo bv;means of a special tax on a luxury such as cuampagno, cigars; or ■, \ some'-of tho aristocratic articles of dress ma-, v i terial, such as silk and satin.'; The people who, ■ v could best afford it would then be made to bear ;.:■ thoir. proportionate burden of the State. ■■,---'

PRIME MINISTER'S REFUSAL!

(By Telegraph-Press 'Association I :v' ,• ~.,- Dunedln, November 13. The .".Otago: and Southland Tobacco and Distributing Association- telegraphed to tho Prime Minister objecting.to the.method proposed for collecting* primage duty,' 1 . Sir Joseph • Ward replied•.--"Regret I am unable to comply with your suggestion. What course, is followed .entails difficulties. Tho only other way is to. place a duty on the articles now, on the free list, and this I oaunot, see'iny. way tb do." ■ - : .' ; : ;' : Napter, November. 13. Napier merohants nave wired ,the:. Prime Minister ,as follows:—"Strongly urge you '. to' reconsider thoV question of collecting primage on goods now in bond, which will cause great trouble and annoyance. Wo believe that a preoedent for. exempting such goods was estab-• fished when a- similar - impost was. made, in 1883. ' The charge will bear unjustly, on Importers, who in many instances will Be unablo to pass on to oustomors the trifling individual increased cost.- We consider it muoh preferable that the required amount should bo raised: by inoreasea duty jn selected articles. If, however, you decide that tho tax is imperative, we urge it should be oolleoted on th» - arrival of the goods/':'.; ■