CUSTOMS DUTIES

Gisborne Times, Volume LXI, Issue 9850, 31 October 1924, Page 5

CUSTOMS DUTIES

REDUCTION IN PIPE TOBACCO

OPENS UP GENERAL DEBATE

WELLINGTON. Oct. 29

The Hon. W. 1). Stewart moved the second reading of the Customs Amendment Bui, which confirms the recent reduction of 8d per lb. on pipe tobacco.

Mr McCombs urged that the time was ripe for a re-adjustment of duty on boots to assist the bootmaking industry, which was languishing. Mr Sidey contended that some consideration should he given to encouraging bodymaking for motor cars in New Zealand by admitting chassis free of duty. This system had been very successful in Australia. This view: was supported by Messrs Lvsnar and Buddo. Air Vcitch suggested several directions in which the Customs tariff might be amended— He contended that Australia had derived more benefit from the reciprocal tariff than New Zealand had done. The Hon. W. D. Stewart said the question of duty on boots was one of the most controversial his Department had dealt with and nothing could lie done this session. He agreed Uiat motor car body-making should bo encouraged in the Dominion hut he was not prepared to say at the moment what was the best way of doing it. He understood that Australia was considering abandoning her ■system of admitting a certain percentage of the chassis of comp'etted cars. His'information concerning the Australian treaty was that we were doing hotter than Australia. He certainly had no complaints about it. The Bill was read a second time.— P.A.