EXPORT VALUES.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1808, 6 December 1879, Page 2

EXPORT VALUES.

Attention has been drawn to the fact that considerable differences cften exist between the values of exports as • reported in the newspapers and as shown by the documents at the An examination of the entries for the Orari and Waitangi show the following averages:— Tallow, per ton, £25 to £35 ; hides each, 15s ; sheep-kins each, 3s; rabbitskins, each, 2d;, greasy wool (crossbred) perlb.,Bd; greasy wool (merino) per lb , 9i ; scoured, Is to Is 2d. Ihe published values of the produce shipped by the Orari and the Waitangi were estimated by the scale which has been generally followed by exporters in the past, namely, £2O per bale for wool all round, £l4 per tallow, or £6 per case for tallow, 15s for hides, and so on. Whenever differences have occurred between the publishei reports of these exports in the values, it has been caused by the shipper using other values in hie ■ export entries. It had not been the practice of the Custom-house officers to pay particular attention to the values inserted in export entries until quite recently. Under instrnetions, dated Wellington, November sth, from Mr Seed, Inspector, enclosing an Order in Council re the matter, the Custom's officials are to insist upon the values of wool, &c, being stated in the export entries "at the current quotations for actual sales" at the time such entries are passed. For newspaper purposes in estimating the value of a ship's cargo round figures must be used to a certain extent, though in the aggregate the values given will be sufficiently near for general purposes, and much nearer under the neworder of things at the Customs than under the practice lately rendered obsolete by the action taken by the G-overnment above referred to.