FEDERAL TARIFF.

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 370, 20 March 1902, Page 2

FEDERAL TARIFF.

By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyrigh Melbourne, March 19.

In the Federal House Sir G. Turner in his supplementary tariff statement said in reference to postponed items it was proposed to leave the duties on glucose and sugar, tea, and kerosene as they were; make starch for rice-making free, place an excise duty on starch made from it, while the duty on dressed rice would be six shillings, and undressed four shillings per cental; put fourpence excise on matches, and reduce tinned fish from twopence to a penny per pound. It was proposed to make New Zealand white pine dutiable, giving a drawback on butter-boxes made here from it, though ash, oak, and walnut should not be free while other cheaper lines were dutiable.

Sir George Turner’s statement estimated the Federal tariff to bring in .£8,587,000, or £578,000 above his previous estimate. Even at the higher estimate, this year would bring in JM63,000 less than the normal year. lie had underestimated New South Wales’ revenue by ,£351,000, but even at present the estimate was half-a-million less than the normal year could produce. As to Queensland, owing to the drought and other causes, there had been a falling-off of ,£123,000. Owing to the reduction made in the tariff' and the articles placed on the free list, there had been a loss of revenue to the extent of ,£300,000, and there would be a further loss by placing tools on the same lines as machinery on the free list. Against this, there had to be placed the excise duty on opium, spirits, and cigarettes, totalling JE85,000. There would also be a number of other items, but the revenue therefrom would not amount to much.