To the Editor of the "NonrH-Ciuna Dany News."
When I read your issue of the 1st instant, I, and many others Tam sure, felt relieved to hear that in the tariff were nob Delieved to be excessive. But being terested in the piece goods trade, and having now had time to digest the new duties, I make bold to dis pute the views expressed in your paper and to say that the tariffs om woollen goods are excessive, Every= body was prepared for a substantial advance in practically all commodities, but woollen piece goods appear to rank in the luxury classes, The classifications are so arbitrary that rata the lowest qualities of material pay a duty far in excess the best qualities. Take for stance any of the low quality serges chieh are imported in large quantities, Under the old tariff these goods were taxed at 15 per cent. ad valorem, which amounted to roughly Shanghai Taels 65 per case of 200 yards, To-day duty en the same goods, at the same exchange rates, amounts to Shanghai Taels 225. In other words, the man in the street must pay an immediate advance of at least {$1.10 per yard on account of duty alone, If a cheaper quality jef cloth is considered, the advance, proportic No doubt the powers that be argued that conditions will adjust. thems selves in time and that the people will pay, but the importer finds hint= self to-day in a very unhappy position iseecia his customers, ho duty payable on heavy weight clothe amounts even to Taels 600 per case of 200 yards or more, Presuming 4 dealer has 600 cases of goods to arrive for one season's shipments hho must find over a period of two to three months the sum of Tacle 175,000, at an average duty value <f Taels 350 per ease. Tt is common knowledge that such a sum is far la excess of the average dealer's cap= ital. Who then will pay? It seems that the Customs authorities will have to enlarge their bonded warehouses to admit all the goods which. will have to be accommodated, T maintain that the duties are excessive for woollen goods, und only ® revision on more equitable Tines will save foreign importers, and Chinese dealers alike, from crushing blow.
The advances in the woollen tariff are altogether out of proportion to the inerenses imposed for other necessities.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.