ANTICIPATING THE WAR TAX

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2496, 24 June 1915, Page 6

ANTICIPATING THE WAR TAX

CLEARING SPIRITS AXD TOBACCO. (By Telegraph.—Prps6 Association.) Auckland, June 23. During the past ton days euormoiia quantities of alcoholic liquor and tobacco havo been removed from Auckland bonded stores. No explanation is forthcoming for this unwonted activity, but it is freely and definitely stated that it is in anticipation of an alteration in the tariff which is considered likely to bo made by the new Parliament. It is thought that any war taxation caynofc be passed until nest Wednesday, and that until then importers have a breathing space, which is calculated to be sufficient to enable them to avoid a very large proportion of their war taxation. Tlio invariable rule in regard to Customs tariff alterations is that all goods in bond at the time an amending Bill passes the Legislature are taxable under the new rate, hence the anxiety .of local merchants. So great has been the rush at the bonded stores that carts havo been coming and going all day long since tho decision was taken, and 110 speed has been too great. No figures are available, and duty paid during the week, as compared with tho corresponding period of last year, would constitute an unfair comparison, owing to the number of ships that have arrived recently. It is stated that the value of tho goods released from bond runs into very many thousands of pounds. The principal activity relates to liquor, the greater portion of which is whisky, both bottled and bulk; brandv, mm, and wine following in that order. very little beer enters the bonds. "They've all got scared," said one authority to a reporter. "Seeing wine and spirit merchants in alarm, the tobacco people thought they would be affected next, and their activity is by 110 means tho least. One firm alone has cleared 4000 cases of whisky, brandy, and wine from one of the local bonds in the last ten days. You will best see what is happening when I tell you that a normal quantity for that period would be perhaps a couple of hundred cases. The bonds are not entirely depleted, but they are. in a .very different state to what they were f fortnight ago."