P-NG Tariffs

And They've Changed

Direction, Too

P-NG Tariffs Show More Ups Than Downs

Territorians who read through

or heard the 11-page Tariff Bill

speech of Papua-New Guinea’s

Chief Collector of Customs, Mr.

T. Grahamslaw, at the Legisla tive Council meeting in July, were probably more interested in the £138,000 more that they now are going to pay in duty for some imports, than in the

£362,000 which Mr. Grahams

law says they are going to save on the items on which import duty has been reduced.

TOTTED-UP, subtracted and generally fiddled with, the new Customs duty schedule is going according to P-NG Departmental mathematicians —to produce the overall £230,000 reduction in import duty promised by Mnnister Hasluck in April, when Income Taxation legislation was introduced.

However, it was probably with tongue-in-cheek that Mr. Grahams law said, at the end of his speech, that “no fair-minded person can validly criticise the generosity of the relief which is contained in this bill. . ”

It is unlikely that Territorians paying more for drink, matches, cigarettes, tobacco, shaving soap, musical-instruments, tape recorders (you can still get that piano in, though, at the same old duty), and jewellery (unless it is that necessary instrument of a healthy, family life —the “plain, gold unjewelled wed ding ring”—which officialdom is go ing to let you import, duty-free), will feel very “fair-minded” about any of it.

Up and Down it Goes In addition, they will now have to cope with Australian-brand of income tax which, on closer inspec tion, assumes an aspect of terrifying implications.

It is interesting to note here, just briefly, the history of Papua-New Guinea import duty laws since, for Customs purposes, ‘‘Papua wa s brought into line with New Guinea , in 1950. ( ° ver)

r rom then until the end of 1955, i basic ad valorem duty was 10 cent., with the usual variations, m or up, for necessities and uries, and a long list of free ids, including all apparel, piece ids, boots, shoes, furniture and )r-coverings. n October, 1955, legislation was traduced without warning and ihed through the Legislative imcil” (as PIM reported at the ie), raising the basic ad valorem e to 15 per cent., raising the duty a lot of “luxury” imports, and Ing others from the formerly free and making them dutiable. In s way, it was calculated, the in nal revenue of the Territory uld be increased by £350,000 per Dun. >o years later, the Power that Is the strings behind Papua-New Inea administration was taking Jther lump-sum out of Terri ians’ pockets, this time to the ie of an expected increase of 0,000 per annum through higher es on some imports. Increased ies on liquor were to account for ,000 of it; higher duties on thes, cars, jewellery, tobacco, aeras, petrol, lolly-water and er items brought in the rest, low, in July, 1959, the much ended Customs Tariff Ordinance aes in for another keel-hauling, 5 time with the purpose of pro sing an overall reduction. In the Wrt-duty sense then, the Terri -

torian is back approximately where he was two years ago, in 1957; but the overall picture, August, 1959, finds him a great deal worse off than at any time since Australia took over.

The $64 question, of course, is how long will it be before import duties are changed once more.

On past history, sometime within the next couple of years it will be found necessary to vary the duties again, and next time it won’t be in order to “square-off” because of the introduction of income tax;, but in order to screw a bit more cash for the Territory Treasury out of local residents.

Here are some of the items which will be affected by the July, 1959

legislation;

Duties Increased

Beer, up 6d per gallon, to 6/9.

Rum, up 6/- per gallon, to 69/-.

Whisky, gin, brandy and all potable spirits n.e.i., up 12/- per gallon to 75/-.

Manufactured tobacco, up 2/6 per lb to Twist (trade tobacco) up 2/- per lb to 5/6.

Chronometers raised from 25 per cent, to 30 per cent, (presumably this Item in cludes also watches, clocks, etc., al though Mr. Grahamslaw did not specific ally mention them).

Fancy goods, duty raised from 30 per cent, to 40 per cent. (Over)

rellery and precious stones (except plain old wedding rings) from 30 per cent, to 0 per cent. mographs and tape-recorders, from 20 «r cent, to 25 per cent. sical instruments (except pianos), from 0 per cent, to 30 per cent. iio sets, from 20 per cent, to 25 per tches, from 15 per cent, to approxi lalely 80 per cent, or from IVzd per oz. boxes to 3d per doz.). metics, toilet preparations, shaving oap, etc., from 15 per cent, to 25 per ent. arette papers from 20 per cent, ad alorem to a rate of Id per packet of 60.

Duties Decreased

M , still, unfortified, from 9/6 to 3/- per allon. ne, still, fortified, from 15/- to 6/- per alien. at, sparkling, is regarded as a “luxury” nd remains unchanged at 35/- per gal. ialion spirit from 6d per gallon to 3d. rose I?, from 5d per gallon to 2d. itwear, from 10 per cent, to the free Ist. parel, piece goods, from 10 per cent, to per cent.

Iding, including blankets, mattresses, aosqnito nets, pillows, from 10 per cent. 0 the free list. asehold utensils and domestic articles, Deluding brushware, cooking utensils, utlery, from 15 per cent, to 5 per cent, st building materials and builders’ hard rare (but excluding timber and plywood) rom 15 per cent, to the free list, nent, and asbestos cement, sanitary and dumbing fixtures, excluding cement lipes, from 5 per cent, to free list, rnitnre of metal from 5 per cent, to ree list (old duty retained on cane and rood furniture). set glass, corrugated, plated or plain ron, from 5 per cent, to free list, apping paper, paper bags, cardboard ontainers, polythene for wrapping, from per cent, to free list. chors, chains, cable, from 15 per cent. t free list. ntz and copper sheets, from 10 per ent. to free list.

Instrlal, marine, air-conditioning and efrigerating machinery from 10 per ent. to free list.

Instrial metals, including solder, white aetal, welding rods, lead, iron, alu ninium, etc., from 15 per cent, to free Ist. •Is of trade, from 10 per cent, to 5 per ent. lor cars, cycles and commercial vehicles 1 15 cwt. or under, from 25 per cent. » 20 per cent. other motor vehicles, from 20 per cent, o 15 per cent. tor vehicle parts and accessories, from 0 per cent, to 15 per cent. •ctors, other than agricultural (which ave always been free) from 10 per cent. » free list.

"ts, tyres and tubes for above, now free, infectants and insecticides (formerly fee when used for animal or agricul •re, otherwise 15 per cent.) now on ’ee list. ty, shellac, wood stains, linseed, tur entine, etc. (but not paints, lacquers, aamels, varnishes) from various rates P to 15 per cent, to free list.

Anti-Sin Measures

1 couple of things in Mr.

ahamslaw’s speech (which, of

irse was not an expression of his •sonal opinions, but “in line with icy”), are worthy of comment. )ne is the unctuousness of the

official mind that feels that the sinful creatures who drink wine that sparkles should be penalised to the tune of 35/- per gallon, while the peasants, who drink it still, should be allowed a concession that will amount to something like 1/1 per bottle. And, again, the preoccupa tion with “plain, gold, unjewelled wedding rings”. What a frightful thing it would be if Territory couples were encouraged to live in a state of sin because they could not pay the duty on a wedding ring. Ergo, let us allow these things in free.

Another notable fact is that, in recent years, the P-NG Customs

regulations have changed from be ing an instrument designed wholly for raising revenue to one partly of protection.

Such industries as beer-brewing, plywood and timber, the manufac ture of paints and enamels, cement pipes and bricks, wood and cane furniture, trade and black twist tobacco all have a measure of pro tection from new and existing Customs tariffs.

Miss Margaret Mary Lou, 19, and Miss Dorothy Muskitta, 18, both of Post Office Box 94, Rabaul, New Guinea, are seeking pen friends.