Mr Elliot
The Customs Ordinance of 1867 was referred to B of Trade & Treasury.
The B of Trade reported (12857) & found fault with Sect. 7,
because the charges for transport insurance &c are not to be
included in the value upon which the duty is to be assessed
& also as to the mode of calculatg it.
They have also found fault with the duties imposed upon Wines.
On both points the C
rs of Customs differ with the B of Trade;
and it appears to me, though I have had very
little experience
in these matters, that the Commissioners of Customs have the
best of the argument. At all events I apprehend that HG will
not be long in following their advice & sanctioning the
Ordinance so far as these points are concerned.
The Commiss
rs of Customs in a former report upon this
Ordinance (12663) found fault, however, with Sects 4 & 8;
& suggest amendments. Similar sections have appeared in a
former
B Columbia Ordinance & escaped comment. (See my minute
on 12663.)
Under these circumstances I should be disposed to sanction the
Ordinance, but to transmit a copy of the Report of the Crs of
Customs upon sects 4 & 8 & request a careful consideration
of that report with a view to an amendment of their provisions
in another Ordinance.