Primage Anomaly

Papuan and N. Guinea Produce Taxed.

ATTENTION has been directed recently to the curious fact that the Aus tralian Customs authorities charge primage on the value of all products of Papua and New Guinea which are imported into Australia, quite irrespective of the fact that those Pacific lands are Territories of Australia.

“The Pacific Islands Monthly” noticed recently that, while the products of Norfolk Island came in free, the im porters of Papuan and New Guinea products had to pay this substantial tax. An inquiry was made of the Cus toms Department as to why this should be so, and it was pointed out that, in a constitutional sense, Papua at least is in exactly the same position as Nor folk Island. The Customs Department was asked why there should be discrimination between the produce of Norfolk Island and the produce of the other Australian territories.

The Customs Department could give no explanation. It simply said that that was the law.

The apparent anomaly was brought before the October meeting of the Islands Trade Section of the Sydney Chamber of Commerce by Mr. R. W.

Robson, and the members agreed that it appeared to be a very remarkable position. It was decided that, in view of certain taxation developments, it would be quite a proper thing to re quest the Commonwealth Government to allow the produce of Papua and New Guinea to enter Australia free of pri mage tax.

Steps were taken accordingly to bring the matter before the Common wealth Government.