1887.

WESTERN AUSTRALIA.

OF

TARIFF COMMISSIONr

Presented to the Legislative Cowicil by His Excellency's Comrnand.

(SESSION COMMENCING 15TH DEC., 1887.)

PERTH: BY AUTHORITY: RICHARD PETHER, GOVERNMENT PRINTER .

1887.

No. 3185.-C.S.O. 3146 87 COMMISSION

By His Excellency Sir FREDERICK NAPIER BROOME, Knight Commander of F. NAPIER BROOME. the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George, Governor

and Commander-in-Chief in and over the Territory of Western Australia and its Dependencies, &c., &c., &c.

To the Honorable Sir MALCOLM FRASER, Knight Commander of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George, Colonial Secretary, Justice of the Peace; LEONARD WoRSLEY CLIFTON, Esquire, Collector of Customs, Justice of the Peace; STEPHEN HENRY PARKER, Esquire, Barrister-at-Law, Member of the Legislative Council; GEORGE SHENTON, Esquire, Member of the Legislative Cotmcil, Justice of the Peace; GEORGE RANDELL, Esquire, Member of the Legislative Council, Justice of the Peace; WILLIAM THORLEY LoTON, Esquire, Member of the Legislative Council, Justice of the Peace; WILLIAM DALGETY MooRE, Esquire, President of the Chamber of Co=erce, Fremantle.

WHEREAS it is expedient to inquire into the operation of the existing Customs Tariff of the Colony, with the view of considering whether, without inflicting any serious loss upon the revenue, any alterations may be made therein which would be likely to further promote the trade, settlement, and production of the Colony:

Now THEREFORE I, Sir FREDERICK NAPIER BROOME, Governor, as aforesaid, have thought fit to appoint, and do hereby appoint you the said Sir Malcolm Fraser, Leonard Worsley Clifton, Stephen Henry Parker, George Shenton, George Randell, William Thorley Loton, and William Dalgety Moore to be Commissioners for the purpose of inquiring into the operation of the said Customs Tariff, with the view aforesaid, and to make recommendations accordingly, if such appear. desirable, accompanying the recommendations with a statement of reasons therefor, and with an estimate of the probable financial effect of the recommendations, giving the facts and figures upon which the said estimate is arrived at.

And I do hereby desire and request that you do, as soon as the same can conveniently be done (using all diligence), report to me, in writing, your proceedings in virtue of the Commission.

And I further will and direct, and by these presents ordain, that this Commission shall continue in force until you shall have finally reported upon the matters aforesaid, or otherwise until this Com­mission shall be revoked by me; and that you, the said Commissioners, shall have liberty to report to me your several proceedings from time to time, as the same or any part thereof may respectively be completed and perfected.

And I do appoint the said Sir MALCOLM FRASER to be Chairman of the said Commissioners.

Given at Government House, Perth, this seventh day of September, in the year of Our Lord One Thousand Eight Hundred and Eighty-seven.

By Command of His Excellency the Governor, MALCOLM FRASER,

Colonial Secretary,

REPORT OF TARIFF COMMISSION.

His Excellency Sir Frederick Napier Broome, Knight Oornrnander of the Most Distinguished Orde1·

of Saint Michael and Saint George, Governoi· and Oornrnander-in-Ohief in and ove1· the Territory

of Westem Australia and its Dependencies.

MAY IT PLEASE YouR ExcELLENCY,-

Having been appointed Commissioners for the purpose of inquiring into the

operation of the Customs Tariff now existing in this Colony, with a view of considering

whether (without inflicting any serious loss upon the Revenue) any alterations may

be made therein which will be likely to further promote the trade, settlement, and

production of the Colony, we have agreed to the following Report, as the result of our

deliberations on divers occasions.

The manner in which Your Excellency was pleased to receive the Address

the Legislative Council, dated the 15th August last, forwarding the Report

of a Select Committee on this question, has led yom Commissioners to believe that

the views briefly embodied in that Report have met with approval, and that any

amendment of the existing Tariff which would tend to promote new trades and industries

or to further encourage those already established, and so to advance the varied interests

of all classes of the Colonists, would thus meet with favor from your Government, as

also from the Legislature and people of the Colony. Your Commissioners, whilst

having in view the development of particular trades, by levying larger imposts on certain

manufactured goods-when it is thought such may be successfully produced within the

Colony-have at the same time desired to confer a general benefit, by enlarging the

Free List and by admitting much raw material at the low duty of five per cent. ;

whilst they have placed numerous articles of luxury at a high rate of duty, namely,

twenty per cent., considering that those who require such imports may reasonably and

equitably be expected to benefit the Revenue.

Your Commissioners desire to save money now lost to the Colony, by admitting

under a light duty of 5 per cent. many imports required for the improvement of the

settlement of the land, considering that by this course the Colonists may be better and

more largely provided with various articles of necessary consumption, and exports

increased. On the other hand, your Commissioners have advised, for the purpose only

of raising revenue, some higher duties, when such can be fairly levied, as in the case of imported wine .

•

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The re-adjustment of Customs charges, under the heads particularised in the

Schedules attached, showing five divisions, namely: -

1. Specific duties.,

2. Twenty per cent.,

3. Five per cent. ,

4. Ten per cent.,

5. Free imports,

enables your Commissioners to recommend a reduction of duty on all articles not par­

ticularised in the first , second, third, or fifth of these Schedules, from the present rate

of twelve and a half per cent., to ten per cent., a reduction of one fifth ad valoreni; this

will doubtlessly be accepted as a boon, and it is believed can be effected without any

noticeable loss to the Revenue, that is, calculating on the Import returns of 1886; and

it affords your Commissioners much pleasure to find themselves able to advise this.

In considering their proposals, your Commissioners have had before them the

Tariffs of the other Australian Colonies, and they have adopted such of the principles

which govern those tariffs as seem applicable.

The draft of a proposed new Customs Tariff is annexed to this Report.

· All which is humbly submitted to Your Excellency.

28th November, 1887.

MALCOLM FRASER, Chairman.

L. WORSLEY CLIFTON, S. H. PARKER, GEO. SHENTON, G. RANDELL, W. T. LOTON, W. D. MOORE.

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PROPOSED CUSTOMS TAR IFF.

Horses and Horned Cattle Sheep Pigs

First Schedule.

Table of Specific Duties.

ARTICLE.

:Bacon, smoked or dried, and in pickle or brine, Hams, and Tongues :Beef and Pork, in pickle or brine Beer, Cider, ancl Perry Biscuits Br&n and Pollard

utter, Butterine, and like Substances

Candles

Cigars, Cigarettes, and Snuff Cocoa, Chocolate, Chicory, Coffee (roast or ground)

Coffee (raw) ...

Wheat Barley Maize and Gram

Dates

each

" "

per lb.

" "

per gallon per lb. pe1· ton per lb.

" per barrel

per lb.

" " " "

per bushel 40 lbs. do. 60

" do. 50

" do. 60

" per lb.

RATE OF

D U TY.

£ s. cl.

0 10 0 0 1 0 0 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 3 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 2 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 2 0 2 0 0 0 3 0 5 0 0 0 3 0 0 2 0 0 4

0 0 4 0 0 6 0 0 4 0 0 6 0 0 2

per ton 2000 lbs. 1 0 0

Fruit, dried ... per lb. 0 0 3

Galvanized Iron (corrugated sheet) per ton 2 0 0

Ginger per ib. 0 0 3

Hay and Chaff per ton 1 0 0 Hops per lb. 0 0 4 Iron and Steel Wire, Standards and Staples, for Fencing per ton 0 10 0 Iron Gates, Hurdles, and Bars for Fencing per cwt. 0 1 0 La.rd per lb. 0 0 2 Lead (Sheet, Pig, and Piping) ... per cwt. 0 2 6 Malt per bushel 0 2 0 Methylated Spirit and other Spirits rendered unfit for human consumption per gallon 0 1 0 Oatmeal per ton 1 10 0 Oil (Fish and Vegetable, except Salad in bottles) ... per gallon 0 0 6 Oils, Mineral and Turpentine

" 0 '() 6

Onions per ton 1 0 0 Ore Bags per doz. 0 0 3 Peel, Candied per lb. 0 0 3 Pepper "

0 0 3 Potatoes per ton 1 0 0 Powder, Gun and Sporting per lb. 0 0 4 Powder, Blasting "

0 0 1 Rice per cwt. 0 2 0 Sacks (Corn and Flour), Bran and Gunny Bags per doz. 0 0 6 Sago, Tapioca, and Corn Flour ... per lb. 0 0 1

Salt (except Rock) Shot Soap (not Toilet) Soda, Crystal Solder Spices

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FrnsT ScHEDULE-Oontinued.

Spirits, Cordials, or Strong Waters (not being perfumed or medicinal spirits, to be used as medicine or perfumery only) for each and every imperial gallon of such spirits, cordials, or strong waters, of any strength not exceeding the strength of proof by Syke's Hydrometer, and so in proportion for any greater strength than the strength of proof, or any quantity greater or less than a gallon

Spirits of Wine, rectified, not being for medicinal purposes ... Sugar, 1}folasses, Treacle, and Golden Syrup Tea Tobacco (manufactured) Tobacco (unmanufactured) Tobacco for sheepwash Vinegar Wine (sparkling) Wine (except sparkling) Wool Bales ...

Second Schedule.

£ s. d.

per ton 1 0 0 per cwt. 0 5 0

" 0 3 0

" 0 2 0

" 0 2 6

per lb. 0 0 3

per gallon 0 15 0

" 1 0 0

per cwt. 0 4 0 per lb . 0 0 4

" 0 3 0

" 0 1 0

" 0 0 3

per gallon 0 0 6

" 0 6 0

" 0 5 0

each 0 0 3

On the undermentioned Goods, Wares, Articles, Merchandise, or things imported into

the Colony, a Ditty of 20 per cent., according to the value of the same:-

Boats. Carriages, Carts, and Wagons. Cordials, not spirituous. Doors, Window Sashes, and Frames. Furniture. Harness and Saddlery. Instruments, Musical; Harmoniums, Pianos, Or­

gans, &c. J ewellery, Electro, Nickel, and other plated Ware;

Precious Stones, Watches, and Clocks.

Third

Mantelpieces. Marble and Stone. Medicines, Patent. Mineral Waters. Perfumery. Soap, perfumed (toilet and fancy). Timber worked, Architraves, Boards planed

tongued, or grooved, Laths, Mouldings, Palings, and Skirtings.

Tinware.

Schedule.

On the undermentioned Goods, Wares, Articles, Merchandise, or things imported into

the Colony, a Duty of 5 per cent., according to the value of the same:-

Anchors. Blocks. Boilers, land and marine. Boiler Tubes. Bottles, empty. Bottling Wire. Brass, sheet or rolled. Brewery and Distilling Plant. Cables and Chains.

Canvas. Copper Rod, Sheet, and Wire. Cordage, Rope, and Twine (including Galvanised · Wire Rope).

Disinfectants. Drainage Pipes and Tiles. Earth Closets . Engine Packing. F elt Sheathing.

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THIRD SCHEDULE-Continuecl.

Forges, Anvils, and Bellows. Gas, and Iron Water P ipes. Harness Mountings and Furniture. Hose, Canvas and Indiarubber. Housings, Saddlers' . Iron Wire Netting. Leather, American Patent (not being Oil Baize). Machinery for separating Cream. Machinery (Agricultural) consisting of P loughs,

Harrows, Scarifiers, Rollers, Horse Rakes (parts of),Reaping, Winnowing, Thrashing, and Mow­ing Machines, Machines for sowing Seed by Horse-power, Moulding Boards, P lough Shares, Horse-powers, and Chaff Cutters.

Machinery for Crushing Quartz. Machinery for Diving Apparatus. Mill Stones, and Machinery for Flour Mills. Oakum.

Fourth

Patent Materials for Wool Scouring. Printing Presses and Type. Pitch. Resin. Shoemaker's Grindery. Smelting Material and Plant. Soda, Ash, and Nitrate of Potash. Spars. Staves and Hoops for Casks. Steam Engines and parts of. Sulphur. Tin, block, plate, and foil. Weigh Bridges. Wire Cloth for Quartz Crushing Machinery. Work for Patent Slips and Docks. Zinc, sheet and plain.

Schedule.

On all Goods, Wares, Articles of Merchandise, or things imported into this Colony and not inclitded in the Ffrst, Second, Third, or Fifth Schedules, a Duty of 10 per cent., according to the value of the same.

Fifth Schedule.

Goods Pree of Ditty.

Animals, Live (except H()rses, Horned Cattle, Pigs, and Sheep).

Band Instruments for Volunteer Force. Bells, Musical Instrume11ts, and parts of, for

Places of Worship. Bone and other Manures, including all Fer­

tilisers. Books, printed, not being Account, including

Music and Charts. Coal. Cod Oil in bulk. Coke ancl Fuel. Colored Glass for Church Windows. Fire Engines. Ice. Immigrants' Tools ancl Instruments of Trade, not

exceeding £10 in value. Iron and Steel, unworkecl, Bar, Sheet, Rod, Plate,

and Hoop. Iron , Pig. Iron, Sheet and P late. Iron, Galvanised Sheeting, plain.

Machinery for boring for Water, Coal. and other Minerals.

Metal Sheathing. Outside Packages in which goods are ordinarily

imported, and which are of no commercial value except as covering for goods.

Paper especially for printing purposes. Personal Baggage of Passengers and Immigrants

(not including vehicles, glassware, chinaware, silver and gold plate and plated goods, and furniture other than cabin furniture), which is imported with and by passengers bona fide for their own personal use and not imported for the purpose of sale.

P lants, Seeds, and Bulbs. Provisions and Stores, Military or Naval, required

for Her Majesty's Service. Rails and Fastenings for Railways and Tramways. Rock Salt. Specie, Bullion, and Coin. Uniforms and Appointments, Military, Naval, and

Civil, imported by Officers stationed in the Colony, for their own purpose.

By Authority : RICHARD PETHER. Govel'nment Printer, Perth.