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Poverty Bay Standard, Volume II, Issue 100, 29 October 1873, Page 2

The Napier Telegraph says:—lf it had been for a single minfcte supposed, that the alteration of the tariff would* have been the cause of proceedings such as have recently occurred at Napier under

the direction of the Collector of Customs, there would have been such a storm raised throughout the colony, that the Government would have been glad to have withdrawn the measure. We hear that the Collector at Port Ahuriri is only doing his duty, and carrying out his instructions, when he insists on imimporters taking oath as to the value of imported goods. The declaration of a Custom House Agent is not deemed sufficient, and the bedsides of half dying men are invaded, and widows compelled to go to Port to solemnly affirm the truth of their invoices. If the object the Government have in view in issuing instructions, compelling actual importers to certify to the value of their goods, is to make Customs’ dues the most unpopular tax that can be levied, then we can understand and appreciate that which otherwise is ridiculous folly. The sooner Customs’ dues are swept away aud an Income and Property Tax substituted, the better it will be for the colony.”