CUSTOMS RETURNS

Evening Post, Issue 51, 2 March 1931, Page 12

CUSTOMS RETURNS

SHRINKING- REVENUE

REDUCTION IN iMPORTS

"Evening Post," 2nd March. //Returns of.. Customs. import ditties .for [February from the four, maiii.ports show a considerable reduction in revenue derived from Customs duties when ..'comparison is •' jsade with'.tbe returns'for February, 1931. The returiis of each port..compare...as'fol- ■■ lows:—"';- "'• ■':'.'/. ■ ;,V: .;..'.■ r ■ . .I/*. -. . ■; ' Fc.li., ■■ -.Fob., . . ' in;ii. • JO.'iO. Import Duties £ ~ Wellington ..... X.V.M:! 'Jll.Uli 'Auckland ...... 130.50.1 .ISr.,nSl Chrlstchurcli .. 58,7.15 51i..157 Duncdin 110,8,') I tfj.O.'ij i;4^3.421 £5.~>2,:>1<1 ilecrcasu for February,' 1931, £128,793. Peer duties supplied are for Wellington, Dunedin, and Chri&lehiueh, and the aggregatesTof .these centres of collection are as follows:'— Feb., Feb., 1031. IU3O. ' . ■ £ a Beer" excise .' 21,8G4, 52.511 decrease (for three centres), £11,147. Collections of duties on motor spirit lave grown substantially. For the month pT February they compare as follows: — i Feb., Feb., 1931. 1030. * Wellington .... 13,777 31,325 Auckland 37,878. :!!),] 4!i Chrlstchurch ... 18,1)82 10,023 Dunedin 12,02:* 7.532 £112,000 £78,923 Increases £33,137. , Advices of tire "duties collected omit Ghristchureh returns, but those for the father three centres amount to £5682, as rpnipared with £3490 for the month of .T'obrnary, 1930. , The contraction in imports may be at-■fi-ibuted to (1) reduction in demand; (2) liigher duties; and (3) high exchange sates. The tendency of imports to fall is~ jikely to continue from these causes, consequently the revenue to be derived from these sources .■will, likewise contract. Customs returns of imports for the tnonth of January (received '2Cth February)'were as follows:— Jim, 1929. Jan., 1930. Jan., 1031. £ £ £ Imports .. 4,510,091 4,190,032 3,012,033