CUSTOMS EVASION.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1492, 15 July 1912, Page 4

CUSTOMS EVASION.

MINISTER'S PROTECTIVE PRO-*

POSALS.

Measures have been devised by tho MilW i-ster for Customs (tho Hon. F. M. B« ' Fisher) to prevent tW importation into JSow Zealand of shoddy Roods and Rt the same time to increase tho Customs rev-, onue. 'i'ho Minister pro]>osos lo make q) recommendation to Cabinet that a, man of wide experience and high technical knowledge should bo appointed to tho High: Commissioner's office to keep tho Customs Department advised as to what goods ere being exported from Gr«it Britain to New; /jcaland. From tlio information in the possession of tho Minister it appears that largo quantities of goods are being manutactured on the. Continent under sweated conditions by people who are paid from Is. 10(1. to,3s. o. day far their labour. These goods aro branded "best quality, made in London, a ,,d aro shipped t'o England and then exported to the- colonies as nrtw clcs of hnglish manufacture, thus obtaW ! llE -n- the advantage of tlio preferential arm. iho Commonwealth Government ias ior eomo time employed two expert! to supervise tho exports to Australia, inoso experts work both in England and: oi tho Continent. Mt. 1 Fisher has been advised that a third officer is to Iμ oppointed. ' Another future of tho import trade til, rtn n b V" pervi,ed is in connec Upn with the shipment to Now• Zealand of under-valued goods. Judging from the experience of the Commonwoalth Customs Department, it is estimated that a large increase .of revenue would b» gained if tins .practice was prevented and tho suporvisipn by tho expert would counteract to a large extent tho competition of goods manufactured by sweated laW in foreign countries. Having been inform! Ed that certain classes of goods which are stamped as genuine all through, contaia shoddy materials, the Minister hae given, instructions that vigorous stops 'are to be tfe'charactL 1 im " Ol ' tatioll ° £ ot