SURTAX PROPOSALS

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1031, 23 July 1930, Page 8

SURTAX PROPOSALS

ADDITIONAL DUTY ON FOREIGN GOODS ANOTHER FIVE PER CENT. The surtax proposals are embodied in the resolutions by which the alterations in the tariff were brought into effect. These also give authority for the change in the assessment of duty on dressed timber and for the policy in regard to clearances, in terms of section 143 of the Customs Act. An additional duty of 5 per cent, is imposed on goods “being the produce or manufacture of any country not forming part of the British Dominions” that fall in a long list of tariff items, details of which are published below. Primage duty at 1 or 2 per cent, will in future be charged only on imports from Australia. In respect of imports from all other countries surtaxes will be imposed, but only on goods otherwise dutiable, so that goods free of duty, which have previously been liable to primage 'duty, will not be taxed at the customs at all. A surtax of Is in the £ of the tariff rate of duty will be imposed on the following items, which are subject to the duties specified, whether British or foreign, except the last item, on which there are preferential rates: Tobacco, cut n.e.i. (pipe tobacco), 4s 2d a lb; tobacco, n.e.i. (plug tobacco), 4s a lb; cigarettes, n.e.i., 33s 9d a 1,000; cigar ettes, exceeding in weight, 241 b a 1,000, 13s 9d; cigars, 15s a lb; snuff, 15s a lb; tobacco, fine cut, suitable for cigarettes, 13s 3d a lb; tobacco, unmanufactured, f«.r manufacturing purposes only, Is a lb; spirits and spirituous mixtures, 36s a gallon; motor spirits, 7d a gallon; timber, rough-sawn baulks. 5s 6d a 100 sup. ft.; timber, rough sawn, n.e.i., 7s 6d a 100 sup, ft; timber, sawn, dressed. 11s 6d a 100 sup ft; . doors, wooden, plain or glazed, 30 p.c., or 4s a door —55 p.c., or 7s 6d a door. On all other imports the surtax will be 9-40ths (224 per cent., or 4s 6d in the pound) of the standard duties. Wheat and wheat flour are exempted from both primage duty and surtax.