THE PROPOSED PRIMAGE DUTY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2659, 15 November 1909, Page 5

THE PROPOSED PRIMAGE DUTY.

OBJECTIONS FROM NAPIER AND DUNEDIN. [Per Press Association.] NAPIER, Nov. 13. Napier merchants have wired to the Premier as follows:—"Strongly urge you to reconsider the question of collecting primage on goods now in bond. It will cause a great deal of trouble and annoyance. Believe there is a precedent for exempting such goods when a similar impost was made in 18S8. The charge will bear unjustly on importers, who in many instances will be unable to pass on to the customers the trifling individual increased cost. They consider it much preferable that the required amount be raised by an increase of duty on selected articles. _ if however, you decide to) tax it is imperative it should be collected on tit© arrival of goods.” DUNEDIN. N0v..13.

The Otago and Scutliland Tobacco aud Distributing Association telegraphed to the Prime Minister, objecting to the method by which it was proposed to collect primage duty. Sir Joseph replied: “Regret unable to comply with suggestion. . Whatever course followed entails difficulties. The other way is to place a. duty on articles nowon the free list, and this I cannot see my way to do.”