OUR French neighbours do not put up with this exasperating American tariff as we do. The Tariff Committee of the French Chamber is still continuing to manifest a determination to raise still higher many of the duties provisionally fixed in the Bill introduced into the Chamber and referred to the Committee. The Committee seems determined to oppose the decision of the Government, which is adverse to the imposition of any duties on raw silk and wool, as well as on hides, oil seeds, and oil nuts. A conference between the Committee and the Ministers of Agriculture and Commerce has taken place, at which the latter warmly objected to the views of the Committee, and accused it of desiring to imitate the McKinley legislation in the United States. It appears likely that the attitude of the Committee on this question of the treatment of raw materials will give the Government a good deal of trouble.
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During the past month an important case has been decided as to the phrase “sale or return”. Although it does not directly touch the furnishing trade the same conditions apply, and our readers should note the result. The case arose in respect of the value of a number of safes supplied by Messrs. Perry and Sons, Limited, Highfield Works, near Bilston, to Mr. F. W. Lock, who was in business in Cardiff. The question at issue was whether there was a custom in the trade of sending out safes to certain dealers “on sale or return”. After the examination of a large number of witnesses, his Honour, in summing up, explained that the burden of proof as to the existence of a custom of sale or return was upon the applicants, and unless the evidence called for them was very clear the jury would have to find that there was no such custom. It had been shown that there were forty safe makers in the trade, but only seven directly interested were called; and the witnesses in the employ of the applicants had stated that it was the practice of Messrs. Perry & Sons, Limited, to supply safes on sale or return: but the practice of one firm did not create a custom. On the other side there "was the evidence of representatives of well-known firms, and they had stated that there was no such custom known to them. The jury found for the applicants, but judgment was stayed, pending notice of appeal.
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It is very touching to read of the sale of the furniture which belonged to the kindly and cultured Emperor of Brazil. “What a fall was there, my countrymen!” The imperial throne went for about £74, a Chickering square piano for £200, a writing desk belonging to the ex-Empress for £300, a prie Dieu for about £13, and the suite of furniture of the ex-Emperor’s private room for about £450.
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The Singer Sewing Machine Co. announce the production of their nine millionth sewing machine, which they have made a very elegant piece of work, and are now exhibiting.
