§ Mr. BARNESasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether instructions have been issued to Customs officers at Dover to collect silk duty upon the total value of articles containing silk, and not upon the value of the silk content?
§ Mr. RONALD McNEILLThe instructions under which Customs officers work at Dover and elsewhere carry out the provisions of the law, under which ad valorem duty is charged upon the whole value of the articles at rates varying according to proportionate value of the silk content. In the case of articles of apparel imported for private use and not for sale, the importer has the option of paying according to weight instead of value.