The Southland Times. INVERCARGILL, FRIDAY, AUGUST 15.
The resolution of the Chamber of Commerce here, while agreeing with that of the Dunedin Chamber in affirming the principle of an ad valorem duty, goes son ewhat beyond it in definitely stating the opinion that the proposed duties of the new tariff are excessive. The Dunedin Chamber referred the matter to a committee, which has since reported thereon, giving its verdict that the duty payable under the new tariff, as compared with the old, is rather more than double. "We should have preferred the adoption of this course by the Invercargill Chamber, as it is certain that with respect to many articles it is impossible for outsiders to arrive at a conclusion. The balance of testimony on the point, up to the present, most conclusively affirms that the increase on the new system will be very great, but there are good authorities who appear to be still in doubt as to tbe matter. The Dunedin Chamber, as also that of Canterbury, in the statistical tables prepared, have
ment of goods both under the old and new systems. The result shown ia that out of fifty enumerated articles, some three or four will pay less duty under the new than under the old system, and as to the remainder, in the bulk the increase varies from 25 to 100 per cent., while in some few instances the advance under the new tariff is equal to an advance of from 200 to 300 per cent. Upon hardware especially the increase is manifest, being over 200 per cent. Upon a small invoice upon which duty has been paid here, under the new tariff, the difference between the old rate and the new has been as 23 against 10. With respect to a large number of articles classed under the higher rates of duty, they are of such a character as that none but experts can with certainty say whether the effect of the new tariff will be to increase or diminish the rate of duty. Taking however the list of articles upon which judgment has been already pronounced, as the basis upon -which the other component parts of the tariff may be fairly judged, and assuming also from the ab.ove .that professional skill has been brought into requisition in its framing, we may conclude that in these cases there will be an advance. The Colonial Treasurer has however stated that the object of the new tariff was not to be taken as meaning additional taxation, but rather as a measure to ensure uniformity, and this may be regarded as though he did not feel quite certain as to the result. Supp >sing this to be so, if it can be shown that the measure will result in largely increased taxation, the Government may be very properly asked, for this reason, very considerably to reduce it. The Colonial Treasurer appears to have prepared himself for this, inasmuch as he states that " the Government would ask the House to sanction a uniform ad valorem tariff of 10 per cent." If the evidence furnished by the various Chambers of Commerce be at all reliable (the admission haying been made that increased taxation is not required for the purposes of Government), the reduction of the rate to 10 per cent, uniformly, as proposed by the Government, ought not to be accepted. This would be but Bcant justice to the articles at present classed under higher rates, many of which are unfairl j {classed, while it would leave those upon which the new tariff presses very heavily, unrelieved. We may mention under this class specially such articles as ironmongery and hardware, which may be reckoned as -absolute necessaries which cau not at present be manufactured in the Colony. It appears, that the justice of the case may be met, without any loss to the revenue as compared with ths measurement duties, by lowering the proposed 10 per cent, duties to 5 per cent., and those at 12? and 15 to 10 per cent.
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Southland Times, Issue 1780, 15 August 1873, Page 2
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673The Southland Times. INVERCARGILL, FRIDAY, AUGUST 15. Southland Times, Issue 1780, 15 August 1873, Page 2
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