Customs
p. 156 · Read in the full issue
Proposed New
List At Apia
From Our Own Correspondent NEW Customs tariffs for Western Samoa which, at the time of writing, were still to be approved by the Legislative As sembly, provide for retention of the existing export duty, fixing the rates at 10 p.c. on copra f.o.b. value, 10 p.c. on cocoa, increased by .01 per cent, for each £ per ton in ex cess of £200; 10 p.c. on coffee; 5 p.c. on rubber, 6d a case of fresh bananas, id per lb of dried bananas, and 5 p.c. on desiccated coconut.
Import duty rates will be charged in the new tariff in a single rate instead of with a surcharge and Port and Service Tax as at present.
The computation of duty and the addition of 10 p.c. to the current domestic or f.o.b. value will be con tinued.
Under the continuing preferential tariff, goods of British origin will be charged 25 p.c. and goods of foreign origin 36 p.c., with the fol 'owing exceptions: Increases —matches to 4/- gross British, 5 - foreign. Spices, caviare, nuts, etc., hops, silk or artificial silk wearing apparel, gloves, hats and millinery, ribbons and lace,
silk and rayon piece goods, rubber tyres for motor vehicles, cigarette papers, cameras, playing cards, clocks and watches, fancy goods, gramophones, jewellery, musical in struments, perfumery and toilet preparations, toys, marine engines, firearms and cartridges, motor cycles and motor vehicles apart from motor trucks, buses and vans, fireworks and a number of other luxury lines are to pay 13i pc. (British) or 45 p.c. (foreign) im port duty.
Reductions: Flour, tinned meats, tinned and preserved milk, sugar, and salt pay 15 p.c, irrespective of ovigin of goods.
Heavy increases are proposed for cigarettes (54/- a 1,000 British, 72/foreign if exceeding 2J lb per 1,000, and 45/- and 60/- respectively if weighing less than 21 lb per 1,000); cigars 20/- and 26/- per lb; snuff 20/- and 26/- per lb, and tobacco 10/- and 13/- per lb.
Ale and beer are to carry a duty of 3/- and 4/- per liquid gallon or six reputed quart bottles, spirits 60 - and 75/- per gallon.
Lumber will be increased to 10/and 13/4 per 100 superficial ft for dressed and 7/6 and 10/- for rough. t Observance of Fiji’s historic Cession Day (October 10, 1874), nowadays much more carefully marked than in former years, has been extended by a secondary
schools’ essay competition. Writl of the ten best essays on t significance of Cession to Fiji v be given free return passages Levuka, where the Deed of Cess;? was signed. If a winner lives the Levuka district, the prize y be a return passage to Suva.