WELLINGTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5821, 25 November 1879, Page 2

WELLINGTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

A special meeting of the Chamber was hehl yesterday afternoon, for the purpose of considering the question of duties charged upon cases, wrappers, &c,, containing goods liable to duties ad valorem. There was only a moderate attendance. Mr. T. Buchanan, chairman, occupied the chair. The minutes of the previous meeting having been read and confirmed, the Secretary (Mr. S. Carroll) read the requisition convening tire meeting, signed by Messrs. J. B. Nathan, J. M. Richardson, J, B. Harcourt, W. Whittem, William Banuatyne and Go., William Dawson and Co., Thompson, Shannon, and Co., Jacob Joseph and Co., and Turnbull, Smith, and Co. Mr. Nathan said that in complying with the new tariff, the merchants would have to pay, in addition to the duties ou goods of 15 per cent., an extra duty of from to 5 per cent, on articles which came in packages, because they would not alone have to pay the duty ou the goods, hut also on the packing. He had taken the trouble to look over some of the goods which would be affected, and in one instance he found that a package of goods of the value of £2 10s. would have to par 13s. duty. There were many insta“°' :3 a similar description. Picture", fancy goods, aud scented soap would have to pay 15 per cent., and the additional duty for packing would make the rale very much higher ; whilst somo lines in ironmongery—such as tools—were let in altogether free of duty, and uo charge whatever was made tor the packing. In oil goods the sum to be paid would amount to about 20 per cent, of the total cost, which was altogether too heavy. He moved that a deputation he appointed to wait upon the Commissioner of Customs, with the view of getting a remission of the duty on packages in which goods subject to an ad valorem duty are packed. Mr. HarcOUET seconded the motion. He thought it was a question which affected the entire community. In answer to Mr. O’Neill, Mr. Nathan said that duty was always paid upon packages, but now that the duty was so much increased, it was felt more severely— in some instances the cost would, he thought, be raised as high as 25 per cent. Mr. Kichaedson, in supporting the motion, said that the duties were collected in Melbourne upon the goods only, and he thought the same system should be instituted here. Oases which cost the drapers 30s. at Home, had often to be sold here for 2s. or 3s. The resolution was carried, and the following gentlemen were to wait upon the Commissioner of Customs The Chairman, and Messrs. Nathan, Thompson, Harcourt, and Richardson. This being the only business the meeting adj’ourned. _______