THE PRICE OF KEROSENE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2136, 19 July 1907, Page 2

THE PRICE OF KEROSENE.

NO NEW DUTY IMPOSED. PUSHING THE LOCAL PRODUCT. (Special t'o Times.) AVELLINGTON, last- night. This afternoon Mr. Okoy, the member of Taranaki, gave notice of a question as to whether, in view of the recent rise in the price of kerosene bocause of the' new duty imposed, the Government would give a- bonus to locally-produced kerosene. The Premier seized the opportunity offered to declare that there was no duty imposed by the new tariff on kerosene. He said he wished to remove the impression that had gained currency. Air. Aitkin let the House understand that the impression that there was a duty had come from the Customs Department. A local Customs officer had told importers that under the new. tariff he would demand the payment of a duty on kerosene. It appeared that the word kerosene did not appear in the whole of the tariff and the officer had read the duty Under the heading of “oil.” The Premier asked for the name of the Customs officer. Mr. Aitken said ho would give it to the House privately. Air. Millar said that if any Customs officer put a duty on kerosene lie did not know what he was doing. There was nothing in the tariff that could lead him to such a conclusion. It was only certain oils of a certain specific gravity (and which did not include kerosene) that were taxable.