DUTY ON TOBACCO

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 85, 7 October 1931, Page 10

DUTY ON TOBACCO

INCREASED BY 8d A LB

RESOLUTIONS PASSED

Customs resolutions increasing the import and excise duties on cut and plug tobacco by eightpence per lb were approved by the House of Eepresentatives last night.

Explaining the increases, in response to questions by Mr. G. C. Black (Independent, Motueka), the Minister of Customs (the Hon. W. Downie Stewart) said the relative difference between local and imported tobacco still stood, as both had been increased by 8d per lb. Even with the increases, the duty on tobacco would be substantially lower than the duty imposed in most other countries. His information was that in Great Britain the duty was 9s 6d per lb as against 6s 2d in New Zealand. In Australia the duty ranged from 9s to 9a 3d. Before the Customs Amendment Bill came down he intended to look into the question whether it was advisable to fix a definite date when the duties should expire.

Mr. P. Fraser (Labour, Wellington Central) asked if it could be taken that the Government had no intention of giving any further protection to the tobacco growers. Mr. Stewart said his recollection of the position was that the manufacturer already had a great advantage. One of the New Zealand companies was exceedingly prosperous. Mr. W. E. Barnard (Labour, Napier): "But it treats the grower properly."