THE TARIFF.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 December 1921, Page 5

THE TARIFF.

THE DEBATE CONTINUED. MANY OBJECTIONS RAISED. NO ALTERATIONS MADE. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wtellington, Last Night. The revision of the Customs tariff was further considered by the House this afternoon and to-nignt. Mr. H. E. Holland (Leader of the Labor Party) moved that the item “mustard” be placed on the free list under all headings. The amendment was lost by 48 votes to 13. Mr. Holland moved to place almonds and nuts on the free list. The duty was retained by 47 to 12. Mr. Holland moved to place salt on the free list, but the amendment was lost on the voices.

Mr. G. Mitchell (Wellington South) moved that sugar be placed on the free list under all headings. The Premier said the £d per pound duty on foreign sugar was intended not to protect the Colonial Sugar Company but to protect the contract which the Government had entered mto with the company for the present year. If large quantities of foreign sugar came into the Dominion the Government might! find a lot of its purchase left on its hands. The contract would end on June 30 next, and would not be renewed if it was possible to avoid doing so. There would then be no need for the duty. A suggestion was made that a stipulation should be inserted in the Bill that the duty should not continue after June, but the Premier said this was not necessary, as Parliament had power to take off the duty if it was advisable to do so. SUGAR DUTY RETAINED. Mr. Holland contended that the only effect of the duty would be to raise the price to the consumer. If it was a fact that we were getting the cheapest sugar in the world what danger was there of cheaper sugar coming in and outselling the Government sugar? The Hon. E. P. Lee said the Government had entered into a contract wrth the Colonial Sugar Company to purchase about 50,000 tons of raw sugar ih Fiji, which was refined in New Zealand. Whatever happened the Government must take that sugar, and if cheaper sugar came in then the taxpayer must hear the loss on the contract made with the company. The duty did not affect the company in the slightest degree. Mr. Lee said he did not think much cheaper sugar would come into New Zealand, but they must provide against a possible loss. On a division the duty was retained by 40 votes to 26. On “tobacco fine cut” Mr. J. McCombs (Lyttelton) moved to reduce the duty from 10s per pound to 3s 6d. The amendment was lost by 41 to 25. Mr. Holland moved that the duty on “tobacco cut, not elsewhere included” be reduced from 4s lOd to 3a Od. The amendment was lost by 38 to 26. Mr. T. M. Wilford (Leader of the Opposition) moved an amendment to reduce the duty on tobacco not elsewhere included from 4s 8d per pound to 3s 6d. It was lost by 35 to 22. PERFUMED SPIRITS.

In the class covering spirits and alcoholic beverages, Mr. W. A. Veitch (Wanganui) moved to strike out the proposed ratea (70s per gallon British preferential, 80s intermediate, and 90s general) on perfumed spirits and Cologne water, with a view to restoring the old rate of 30s. He urged that these spirits were medicinal necessities. The Minister, replying, quoted instances of invoices on which his advisers worked out the duties payable. These showed that the impost was not excessive on what was really a luxury. Mr. T. W. Rhodes (Thames) said it was strange protests only came from dealers; doctors and hospitals had made no representations. He agreed that perfumed spirit might in a small degree be a necessity, and it might therefore be put on an ad valorem basis. After further discussion^ Mr. Veitchs amendment was lost by 37 to 24. MV. W. E. Parry (Auckland Central) moved to place acetic acid on the free list. This was defeated by 47 to 15, and the duty was retained. Air P. Fraser (Wellington Central) moved to -put disinfectants on the free list under the intermediate and general tariffs, as well as under the British preferential tariff. This was defeated by 50 to 8. On the item cream of tartar the Minister moved an alteration to make it free under all tariffs until December 31, 192--, after which the duties in the schedule should operate, viz.. British preferential free, intermediate 10 per cent, ad valorem. general 20 per cent. Mr. D. G. Sullivan (Avon) moved an amendment that the item be permanently free under all tariffs. The Minister said this was one of the few instances in which the Britis i Government had asked that encouragement be given to British manufacturers, who could meet all needs. After further discussion Mr. Sullivan agreed to withdraw his amendment anil the item was passed. ... Mr. Holland moved that eucolyptus oil be free under all headings, because it was an article necessary to the healtj of the people. The duty was retamed by 50 to 9. COTTON GOODS. Mr. Holland moved that sewing cottons be free under all headings on the ground that sewing cotton was an ar tide of daily household use and t.ie British manufacturers of it were the worst profiteers m the world as shown by the enormous profits they made during the war years, Coates and Co. alone making a profit of .019.000,000. On a division the duty on foreign cotton of ten per cent, was retained by M

ll. Mr. Mitchell raised the question ot the proposed duty of twenty per cent, on British‘textile piece goods when woven with a pattern or in continues lengths. He drew attention to the concession granted to Japanese silks and next British piece goods were to be heavily taxed. There appeared to be no consistency in the Government policy. He moved that these goods be free under all headings. The Minister said this question of cotton piece goods had always been one of the most difficult the department had to deal with and the schedule before the House was the result of an agreement arrived at after a long conference between the drapers’ representatives and Customs officers. After considerable debate the duty was retained by 33 votes to 21. Class Vi, textiles, clothing, drapery,

etc., was passed with an addition to the item flags on the motion of the Premier to enable flags, including the Union' Jack or flags of which it forms a part being admitted free On the item of boots the Premier said*, he proposed to hold this item over, so; that he might consult during the week-< end with the officers of the department; to see what could be done + o permit;; children’s boots to come in free. Discussing the duty on rubber tyres*; the Premier gave the House an assure ance that the revenue derived from this tax would be earmarked for the main-* tenance of main roads in both Islands. (Left sitting).