Reciprocity With South Africa

Hokitika Guardian, 1 November 1922, Page 4

Reciprocity With South Africa

TARIFF ARRANGEMENT. WELLINGTON', October 30. J ll the House of Representatives this afternoon, the Mon. \V. Downie iStewr.)t, as Minister of Customs, brought down a resolution ratifying the reciprocal arrangement as to Customs duties with the Union of South Africa in the terms of Section 10 of the Customs Amendment Act, 1921. The Minister explained that by the New Zealand and South African Customs "Duties Reciprocity Act of 190 G, provision was made for Customs reciprocity between New Zealand and South Africa. An Order-in-Council to give effect to the agreement entered into was accordingly issued on January 7th., 1907, which was subsequently amended bv Order-in-Couucil of March 31st., 1909. In all subsequent alterations of tariff operations those Ordcrs-in-Couneil had been specially preserved By an Order-in-Council issued under the Customs Amendment Act, 1921, on July 3rd, 1922, the aforesaid Orders-in-Council were revoked as from August Ist., 1922, for the purpose of affording an opportunity of revising the rates of duty on wine and tobacco. The revocation of the Orders-in-C'oun-eil placed South African produce on the British preferential tariff. 7! was now desired to revert to the agreement, save so far as it related to wine and tobacco. It was proposed to increase the duty on wine from 2s the gallon to 3s 6d the gallon, in the case of wines other than sparkling, and from 5s the gallon to 9s Gd tho gallon in the ease of sparkling wines. It was not proposed to restore the former concession on tobacco, which would in fnture pay the British preferential tariff rate (in lien of 2s Rd the pound). The concessions granted in respect of New Zealand produce entering South Africa had not been revoked.

The Minister’s resolution was ns follows:—That the existing tariff ho suspended as from the first day of August 1922, in so far as it relates to goods referred to in the schedule hereto (being goods, tho prodneo, or manufacture of tho Union of South Africa). and that in lieu thereof, snrh goods shall, as from the said first day of August, 1922, be subject to the duties and ex-

emotions from duty specified in that .schedule, floods being the produce or manufacture of the Union of oSuth Africa: Feathers, tariff I• > per cent.. ad valorem. Fish lid the pound. Fruits (dried), free. Fruits (green), free. Maize Gel the cental. Sugar, free. Tea lOd the pound. AYine (other than sparkling) 3s Gd the gallon. Wino (sparkling) Os Gd the gallon. All other goods except spirits and tobacco 3 per cent, less than the duty which would otherwise he payable.