CUSTOMS LAWS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1547, 17 September 1912, Page 5

CUSTOMS LAWS.

THE POSITION OF . IMPORTERS. The subject of Customs law was mentioned at tile meeting of the Chamber of Commerce. yesterday by Mr. A. E. Mabiu, the president (if (lie Chamber. Mr. Ma-bin- said that importers were called upon to pay duty on goods bought nt net cash prices, not upon the net cash value, but at net cash value plus 2.1 polecat. The 2i- per cent, was added because it was assumed that the purchaser was obtaining this discount for cash, and that the addition of- this sum would bring the invoice up to mnrket value. Tho Customs Law Act (Sections 55 to 58) was quite clear, and enabled the Custsnis authorities to make tliis surcharge.' It was there laid down that the value of goods for Customs duty had' practically nothing to do with the actual invoice value, but such value was to be the fair market value (nothing was said as to invoice value) when sold for home consumption in the principal markets of the exporting country'at the usual ordinary credit, and not the cash value of the goods. Discount for casli would not in any case be allowed, except where a particular class of goods could be purchased for cash only. The Customs authorities asserted that they were only doing their duly in administering the Act in the matter stated. If the addition of this 2i per cent, was considered an imposition by members of the Chamber, it was a.question of the amendment of (he 'Act.