THE TARIFF.

Westport Times, Volume VII, Issue 1127, 25 November 1873, Page 2

THE TARIFF.

The following paragraphs, appearing in the Wellington Independent of a recent date, are worthy the attention of mercantile men : It has come to the knowledge of the Customs' authorities that certain mercantile firms in Australia are in the habit of supplying their customers with two invoices, one showing the true cost of the goods purchased, the other showing a considerable reduction, for the purpose, it is presumed, of enabling the consignee to exhibit it to the Customs and to clear his goods at less than their real value. We understand that in all cases where the names of firms that act in this manner become known to the G-overninent, the Customs' officers throughout the Colony will be instructed to take especial care to have the goods shipped by these firms properly examined, so that the revenue may not be defrauded by these spurious invoices. The precautions that the Customs' officers may find it necessary to take in these cases may probably have the effect of inconveniencing the consignees ; but, both for the purpose of protecting the revenue, and in justice to the honest trader, we think the authorities are fully warranted in adopting the most stringent measures possible to put a stop to the practice referred to. Reference was made in our columns yesterday to the practice adopted by some Australian firms of sending duplicate invoices to their customers in this Colony, for the purpose of defrauding the Customs. We ought, in connection with this subject, to have stated, for the benefit of storekeepers and others who purchase their supplies from importers, that the " genuine and only " invoice of goods which are subject to the ad valorem duty is now always stamped at the Custom House when presented with the import entry. Retailers, when purchasing goods at an advance on the invoice cost, would therefore do well to see that the genuineness of the invoice is verified in every case by the Customs' stamp.