CUSTOMS ENTRIES

Hokitika Guardian, 22 July 1930, Page 6

CUSTOMS ENTRIES

TO BE ACCEPTED AT FIRST PORT * OF CALL. ■ United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.] Wellington, .July ,19. ‘ ‘With reference, to ~, the question Which has arisen concerning the action of collectors qf Customs in refusing to Acctept entries for goods until they arrive 5 at their port of discharge from the importing ship, the representations which have been made have received very careful consideration,” said the Prime Minister to-day. “As T have already stated, noisclieme has yet been devised which will be fair to all importers in New Zealand, but if alterations have tho be made in the tariff, the Government desires that the procedure adopted by the Customs Department should not bear harshly on merchants in any particular district. It is recognised that, owing to the fact that overseas vessels generally make Auckland or Wellington their first port of call, merchants in other centres may be prejudiced in competing with northern importers, and it has been decided to to requests which have been made on behalf of southern merchants. ‘‘lnstructions will therefore he issued that collectors 'of Customs at all ports are to accept, entries. for goods as soon as .the importing ship arrives at its first port of call. The questionas to the incidence of new duties is a matter for Parliament, but, in the event of tariff alterations being made, Parliament will be asked to allow section 143 of the Customs Act, 1913, to operate. - Under this goods on overseas vessels, which have arrived at the first port in New Zealand will be entitled to be entered, either at the old rate or at the new rate, whichever is most faournble-to the importer.