THE NEW TARIFF.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 October 1921, Page 4

THE NEW TARIFF.

HINTS AT LIKELY INCREASES. COTTON GOODS INCLUDED. It is anticipated that the new customs tariff will disclose some fair increases in regard to certain businesses, and t/he soft goods trade is likely to be one of these. Manager* of New Plymouth drapery houses* yesterday gave the opinion that probably cotton goods would come in for a levy of from ten to fifteen per cent., while there might be an increase in silks, or other items regarded as luxuries. It was also mentioned that an increase in the preferential tariff on foreign goods might be adopted to secure extra revenue. One informant stated that he did not anticipate the new tariff would mean a rise in the existing price of goods, unless the levy was exceptionally 'high, as the extra charge would be counterbalanced by the general fall of pricea. Imports which are regarded as almost certain to bear extra levy as the result of the new tariff are spirits and tobacco. The Minister of Finance, in looking for new avenues of taxation, may not overlook the present anomaly in the duty on cigarettes as compared with cigarette tobacco. It takes 2Mb. of tobacco to make a thousand, cigarettes, on which the duty is 25* 6d. Tobacco is, however, taxed with but 3s 6d lb., so the smoker who rolls his own is only paying duty at the rate of 8s 9d per thousand.

QUESTION IN THE HOUSE. ANXIETY TO KNOW PROPOSALS. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. Replying to a question in the House this afternoon, Mr. Massey said the Tariff Bill would probably come down with the Financial Statement, which relatively would not be later than in the case of other sessions. If the business of the session was not completed before the end of the year then the House would have to continue sitting into the New Year.