THE TARIFF

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2167, 24 August 1907, Page 2

THE TARIFF

LATEST AMENDMENTS. Press Association. WELLINGTON, August 23. Under the amended tariff resolutions tho following alterations are made: —Imported confectionery lias reverted hack to the rates charged prior to the original tariff brought down last month; flaked maize has been altered from 2s to Is per bushel; surgeons’, physicians’, dentists’, and opticians’ instruments, on which it was proposed to put 20 per cent., have been placed on the free list; raw cotton is also nlaced on tho free list, and the new duty on cotton goods does not come into force until 31st December; the amended duties on boot, shoes, cloth, and patterns, n.0.e., are: —Men’s, above size No. 5, Is 6d pair and 15 uer cent; ad valorem; boys’, Nos. 7to 1,6 d pair and similar ad valorem: women’s, above size No. 1, Is and 15 per cent.; girls’, Nos. 7 to 1, 15 per cent.; slippers of felt with felt soles, and shoes and goloshes known as Plimsolls, with moulded iml ia rubber soles, ‘-1; per cent.: printing inks remain free, and are. placed on the preferential tariff; tho duty on cartridge cases is altered from Is 6d to Is per hundred; electric generators and motor electric lamps, including fdobes for arc lamps, and electric transformers aro subject to a duty of 10 per cent.; other electrical machinery, 20 per cent. ; an amendment has been made in iron pipes and wrought iron ~ipes over 6 inches in diameter —iron pipes up to 9 indies free; over 9 inches 20 per cent.; pipes required for municipal purposes to be admitted free; vestas and sportsmen’s oval’s, duty will be charged on the number of matches in each box; bags of textile or felt if printed charged 25 per cent.; articles placed on the free list include rice meal, refuse of rice meal, fruit juices, tea in bulk and packages not less than 51b (under 51b duty bo 2d lb), sodium, etc.; dentists’ and surgeons’ materials has been widened by the addition of the words “such other appliances and materials particular to surgical or dental use as may be from time to time enumerated by tho Minister” ; moulded shoo and slipper soles are made free to encourage manufacture in the colony; glass bottles,-ear-then jars mi to 3 inch at mouth are free, above that size 20 per cent.; films for kinematoscopes and cinematographs free; Sunday school tickets and reward cards, Scriptural or religious, not exceeding 5d dozen in value, and not exceeding 6 inches bv 4 inside, free; brass tubing and stamp work in rough, suitable for .gasfitters, etc., tree; various articles connected with electrical apiiliauces free; motor cars are struck out of the free list, but chassis for motor cars, including wheels, are free, body 20 per cent. ; engine packing free. Following are struck out of the preferential tariff: Bacon, hams, glucose, honey, walnuts, pearl barley, split peas, acetic acid, cattle, chaff, barley, grain of every kind, horses, onions, potatoes, prepared calf meal, ■also motor cars and wheels for them, cream separators, and parchment paper for butter, bottles, a.nd jars, axles, axle arms and boxes. v

LARGE CONCESSIONS

Special to Times. WELLINGTON, August 23. In the course of an interview that I had with the Minister for Customs to-niglit he stated that the amended tariff resolutions meant a further concession of £2-5,000. Tho total concessions proposed totalled £400,000 and the increases are £IIO,OOO, leaving a net loss to the revenue of £290,000 of which sugar alone was responsible for not less than £208,000. He said that as far as possible ho had met the represent at ions recently made to him on behalf of different industries. Of course, he said, it was impossible to grant all that was asked as it was absolutely necessary that a certain amount of revenue should be raised through tho Customs. “I have,” he said, “endeavored as far as possible to allow each industry to bear its portion. I believe that if the tariff goes through in anything like the form it is now in both importers and the Department will have a simpler tariff to work under than has ever been jilaced upon the Statute book. •An effort has been made to remove all anomalies and at the same time give a reasonable measure of assistance to local industries.” In answer to a question as to the time that would probably be occupied in dealing with the tariff proposals. Mr. Millar said that it was difficult to form an estimate of the time that would be occupied, but it would probably not be less than three weeks. “I hope,” he said, “when we start next Tuesday to go right through with the tariff when we get a start. It is very injurious to business to have the tariff question hanging over, and now that we have finally brought down our resolutions tho sooner the matter is settled the better for all concerned.”