The Feilding Star, Oroua & Kiwitea Counties Gazette. Published Daily. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 1895. THE DUTY ON BOOTS and SHOES.

Feilding Star, Volume XVII, Issue 74, 24 September 1895, Page 2

The Feilding Star, Oroua & Kiwitea Counties Gazette. Published Daily. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 1895. THE DUTY ON BOOTS and SHOES.

The subjoined figures should prove an eye-opener to the working classes. The Napier Telegraph pertinently asks why the Government should wish to make us pay nearly two hundred per cent, more for our boots than we ought to pay. That this is so may be seen from the following, supplied to the Wellington Post by a Mr Leighton, of Wellington, and giving the details of taxes and charges upon two orders now being completed for him, on the basis of Mr Ward's proposals for taxation on boots :— £ s d 58 dozen pairs of infants' boots and shoes, sizes 3 to 6, and 4 to 6, not made in New Zealand —

Total amount of charges on invoice of £21 13s 6d is ±-41 15s, of which the Customs take £39 12s. If revenue is wanted, why do not the Government increase the duties on such luxuries as wines, spirits, beers, tobacco, cigars, cigarettes, &c, and leave severely alone those essential necessaries of life — clothing, boots aud shoes, fruit, &c. [In the House last night the duty on boots and shoes was fixed at 22^ per cent.

THE CHELTENHAM FACTORY. The Beport of the Cheltenham Dairy Company to be presented to the shareholders to«morrow contains some interesting particulars of this really successful institution. The turnover for the last six months shows an increase over the previous winter, the quantity dealt with being 1,237,537 pounds of milk, from which was made 52,907 pounds of butter. During the two years the factory has been at work upwards of £ 5800 has been distributed among suppliers. The last season was not altogether a success, and the balance-sheet shows a balance on the wrong side in Profit and Loss Account, but that is more a matter ot fignres than anything else, because the £400 deficiency includes the preliininay expenses of forming the company, and losses on the last two seasons' shipments. The necessity of farmers increasing the milk supply is urged, and very properly so, to enable the factory to be worked during the winter, and thus maintain the valuable trade connections already established. The factory is able to pass through twice the maximum quantity yet received.

English cost 57 18 6 10 per cent added by Customs , ... 5 18 0 63 16 6 Customs duty, 25 per cent... 18 0 0 do., 2s per pair... 67 12 0 Freights and charges ... 5 16 0 „155 4 6 Less, added by Customs ... 5 18 0 _149 6 6 Total amount of charges on invoice of _57 18s 6d is £91 Bs, of which the Customs take .£BS 12s. £ s d 28 dozen pairs of infants' and children's shoes and. ladies sick-room shoes, from 4s 9d to 48s per dozen pair... 21 13 6 10 per cent added by Customs 2 3 0 23 16 6 Customs duty, 25 percent... 6 0 0 do., 2s per pair.,, &3 12 0 Freights and charges ... 2-3 ,0 £65 11 6 Less, added by Customs ... 2 3 0 _163 8 6