THE NEW TARIFF.

Hokitika Guardian, 2 July 1927, Page 1

THE NEW TARIFF.

MERCHANTS CLEAR ,STO( Ks FROM BOND. (TI R IS'I’CH 1" ROD . June Jib Wine and spirit mereliaiils have been lending a more or less uneven! In! liie since 1921. hut since a rumour has been in circulation that Parliament is about to substantially increase the duty on wine and spirits things have been moving quickly again with them. It cannot he ascertained how much more of the commodities in question has been drawn out of bond than is the ease in normal times, hut from various sources il has been learned that the bonded supplies have been heavily drawn upon, and that the free stores are heavily stocked.

This is the usual custom when a new tariff is imminent. The head ol one id the large Christchurch firms said yes-ti-rday alTernnoii that in 1921. when the that the linns bought large consign|,oi to ;J(!s. the rush to get stock out ol bond was heavier by lar than it was at the present time. The position was tba! the linns brought large consignments ol sp.rits anil wines, uitd these were kent in bond by the ( il.-toms. They were cleared and the duty paid at the convenience ol the linns. I lie duties on large consignments amounted to a great deal, and so a clearance under pressure, which was practically ibo slab' of affairs now. meant a big draw upon capital. If a firm could not clear all its stock in bond helorc the new tariff came into operation, they would have to clear il later at the then existing rate. If the duty were not increased merchants would he no worse off, except for Hie interest charges incurred on tree stocks carried bevoud normal requirements: il the duty were raised then the withdrawals would be justified as a matter of business, for prices would be advanced in coniormily with the increased duly. It was stated that the experience of the British Exchequer was that there wus a limit to hijilmr tint it'!' ns a tumiis of bringing in revenue. Whisky and other spirits would he most alleeted. and that might he the cause, in fact experience in this eounfry. had shown that it would tie the cause, ol a lulling oil' in the consumption of spiriis. H was expected that the increase would he fairly substantial, and that would mean the retail price of spirits would | H -.. say. a shilling. Under the oircuinstanee.s consumers might take more kindle to wines am! beers, the cheapen beverages, than they did in the good old days of “ sixpence a nip.”

Reports from all over the country unto the effect dial big clearances have been made from all bonded stores, and that tne probable amount of duty paid in this manner will he somewhere about C 100.000. Uis estimated that in Canterbury alone it must amount to over cioo,ooo. Clearings have been especially heavy in Auckland. New Zealand imports ol spirits and wines for 1020 in nations sl.ow increase* over those of 1925. They were as ml-

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