TARIFF ALTERATIONS

Hokitika Guardian, 23 July 1930, Page 3

TARIFF ALTERATIONS

INCREASES OF DUTY

IN FORCE TO-DAY

PETROL INCREASE 3d

(By Telegraph—Press Association)

WELLINGTON, July 22. The Minister of Customs at 7.30 tq-Miight introduced ' the eagerlyawaitedyj resolutions for the amendment fif : the Dominion Customs Tariff,.the House going into Committee of ; '.ways and 'means to deal with the resolutions. The most notable features of the new impositions are as followslAn increase in the petrol duty/ which is one 6f threepence per gallon, making the rate now 7d per gallon.' An increase of the duties on imported timl>er amounting in the q case of pieces 25ft. long with a cross section area not less than 150 square inches to a rise of 3s per ICO feet to >ss|;6d per -100 f t; other kinds not specified by 2s 6d to 7s 6d per 100 ft; ‘apd- sawn dressed timber by 4s to Us 6a "per 100 ft. The increase applies to all imports. • There is a reduction by one shilling per lb. of the duty :on imported unmanufactured tobacco to Is per lb. An increase in the duty on cigarettes from 25s 6d to 33s 9d per thousand. : ’ : ' ■j An increase in the duty or. capars from!2s to 15s per pound. ,An increase from 10s to 13s 3d pci iti on fine i cut * cigarette tobacco. |An increase on the duty of spirits ?(dqual to 12s 5d per case) on sp i’ts ■ exceeding 40 per cent of proof, but not exceeding proof. The rate of 3fw per gallon on this strength is now i er liquid gallon, while on the proof spirits the 36s is imposed per proof gallon. An "increase of 4d per giaillon on foreign oil, including lubrication oils, and mixed oils. An increase of 5 per cent to 50 per cent, ad valorem on foreign furniture, and to 55 per cent on foreign doors: and an increase of 5 per cent, on British doors, or a 'minimum of 4s per door. The resolutions moved by the Minister included one repealing the suction of the 1927 Act giving powers to the 'Minister in respect of the measurement of sawn, dressed timber cleared from the customs. The duty on such timber is now fixed at 11s 6d per iOOf.t or 4s 6d above the old sale. Another resolution increases by five per cent the. duties on a long list of foreign goods, including chocolate, citrus fruits, vegetables, lemon material for making squash, biscuits, confectionery, lard, animal fats, preserved fruits, macaroni, spaghetti, vermicelli, soaps, potted meats, perfumes, other spirits, photographic chemicals, culinary essences, medicinal preparations, drugs containing spirits, rennet, saccharine, apparel to measure (now up to 65 per cent.), boots, ladies’ footwear, other leather goods,- ornamental buttons, drapery, feathers, floor covering, linoleum, machinery (except printing), woollen floor coverings, hair nets, hats and caps (now up to 60 per cent), laces, baize, leather clothing, millinery (now up to 50 pear cent), rugs, dress nets, lace nets, curtains, woollen piece goods,.felt and other textiles, handkerchiefs, umbrellas, parasols, waterproofs, yarns, belting, gum boots and a considerable number' of further items. PRIMAGE DUTY DROPPED. Another resolution does mostly .away with the primage duty in, these .terms: That primage duty imposed by Sections 15 of the Customs Amendment Act, 1921,. shall not be levied, on any goods imported into New Zealand after 22nd of July, 1930, except on goods from Australia, liable to primage under the Customs Act, 1921. SURTAX SUBSTITUTED. The primage duty is replaced by a surtax, its resolution reading:— That in lieu''of primage, there .shall in addition to other duty be a surtax of one-twentieth of the total duty on certain articles specified, and on the others nine-fortieths of the whole duty, except wheat and wheat flour and meal. The benefit of Sec. 143 of the Act as to the lesser impost is accorded. Primage is to continue on Australian goods, except on wheat and flour. Thd Australian-New Zealand tariff : agreement is not altered by the new resolution. Certain South African goods are also unaffected under the ■ 1925 treaty with that country. The new duties on tobacco manufactured' in New Zealand are:—-Out , 2s 8d per lb; cigarette tobacco 2s 9d

SPIRITS, BEER AND TOBACCO RAISED

per lb; other tobacco 2s 6d per lb; cigars and snuff 8s per lb., and cigarettes made by machinery 11s. Beer duty is raised a half-penny as follows, viz:—(a) Where the specific gravity of the worts used, does not exceed 1,047, one shilling per gallon; and (b) where the specific gravity of the worts exceeds 1,047, the rate aforesaid, is increased by one-six-teenth of a penny for every unit of specific gravity above 1,047. Onions from foreign countries, such as Japan and U.S.A. now pay £4 per ton duty, an increase of £2 10s white the new one is Is per lb. Swiss watch manufacturers will suffer under the increase of the duty on foreign watches from 20 to 45 -per cent-, ad. val., plus the os surtax. Printed handbills and circulars pay an increase of 6d per lb or Is 6d. Foreign electric lamp bulbs are up by a half-penny for 8 watts, lj-d for 80 watts, and 3d for 180 or over. The new timber schedule is:—Rough sawn—viz: —ln pieces having a length of not less than 25 feet and having a minimum cross sectional area- of not less than 150 square inches os 6d per 100 ft ; N.e.i. 7s 6d per 100 f; timber sawn dressed 11s 6d per 100 ft; furniture and cabinetware, n.e.i and other than metal, including chairs oi wood with wicker, bamlboo, or can seats; billiard tables; mantelpieces, other than stone; sashes, wooden, plain or glared 25 per cent. ad. val., doors, wooden, plain or glazed 30 per cent, ad. val., or 4s per door, whichever rate returns the higher, duty. A SUMMARY. The following are some of the chief alterations in the Customs tariff, which becomes effective .to-morrow, subject to Section 143 of the Customs Act, 1913, and made by the resolutions submitted to Parliament this evening. INCEASES. Increases are made on the following. Cigarettes from 25s 6d to 33s 9d per 1000° and from 10s 6d to 13s 9d per pound; cigairs from 12s to 15s per pound. Rough sawn timber: Duty increased by 2s 6d per 100 superficial feet, sawn dressed timber duty, increased to 11s 6d. Fresh small fruits: Duty increased from Id to 2d per pound. Motor spirits: Duty increased from Id to 7d per gallon. All the foregoing goods are liable at the same rate if of British or foreign origin. The rates on the following goods are increased: British and foreign apparel and hosiery: The British rate is increased by 24 per cent., and the foreign rate by 5 per cent. Motor vehicles: Foreign rate increased by 5 per cent. Motor body duty: British and foreign rate increased 14 per cent. The allowance for under proof spirits is abolished. FOREIGN RATE INCREASES. Increases have been made in rates on the following goods if of foreign origin:—Onions from 30s to £4 per ton; jams, from 4d to 5d per pound; watches, from 20 per cent, to 45 per cent.; lubricating oil, from 8d to Is per gallon; electric lamp bulbs, duty increased by one-fourth. The rate on the following foreign goods is (inter alia) increased by a. 5 per cent, ad valorem: —-Confectionery, preserved fruits, provisions, foap, chemicals, drugs, apparel made to order, drapery, haberdashery, laces, ribbons, woollens, millinery, hats, boots other than children’s, leather manufactures, tyres for motor vehicles, glass bottles and jars, glassware, chinaware, clocks, fancy goods, toys, jewellery, plate, plateware, cinematographs, phonographs and records, musical instruments, photo goods, toilet requisites, stationery, paperhangings, firearms, cartridges, hardware, metal manufactures, cash registers, typewriters, electrical machinery and appliances, pumps, weighing machines, industrial machinery and appliances, artificers’ tools, motor cycles, lubricating greases, basketware, furniture, woodenware, brush ware. The primage duty is abolished except for Australian goods, and a surtax on duty is payable on dutiable goods substituted at the rate- of onetwentieth of. the duty in case of .tobacco, cigarettes, spirits,-timber and petrol; and nine-fortieths of the duty

on a.ll Other goods except wheat and Hour, which are exempt from both primage and surtax. Barley, after the thirty-first proximo is exempt, except when for the manufacture of beer. The increases in duty do not meantime apply to Australia. Leaf tobacco is reduced by Is pier pound, both British and foreign. The following are increases in the excise duties:—Cut and plug tobacco, increased by Is per pound; cigarettes made by machinery, increased to 11s per pound; New Zealand beer, minimum duty increased from 114 d to Is per gallon. DEBATE ON PROPOSALS. WELLINGTON, July 22. After the resolutions were moved members proceeded to discuss the Government’s proposals at some length. The Leader of the Labour Party, Mr Holland, said that it appeared that the Government was seeking revenue from indirect sources. Some other Labour members said that there would be consternation from one end of New Zealand to the other as the result of the new impositions. RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED. WELLINGTON, July 23. The Customs resolutions were adopted at, midnight.