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Auckland Star, Volume IX, Issue 2604, 22 August 1878, Page 2

IT is impossible to read the detailed account of the brewers'deputation to Mr Ballance yesterday, without being struck with the weakness and disingenousness, of the'arguments brought forward by the petitioners. Instead of briefly stating that they thought the tax was a direct injury and unfair to themselves these disinterested gentlemen endeavored to make out that it would bring sorrow to several classes of the community, and all but paralyse lpcal industry. The " poor man"—rwhom the brewing fraternity somehow'1 seem to look upon as their own particular property—-was dragged in by the ears," Mr Sharpe, in his list of objections to the tax, asserting that" it would press heavily on the working man, to whom beer was quite as much a necessity, as tea and sugar." Putting on one side the fact that this statement is a gross libel on the working class as whole—many of whom are food templars—we cannot aay that we elieve beer is a necessity to any man. It is we admit, a pleasant, and when moderately used, a wholesome drink, but it does not occupy, to the daily diet ot any class, the relation held by tea and sugar. It is all very VeU Wj the "Licensed Victualling fraternity, to moan over the possibility of the-poor man being robbed of his beer;" but if such a thing were possible, we rather think' it would injure the moaners more than the behjoane'd. ' To say that beer does not encourage, drunkenness is simply moonshine. It is a notorious fact that nearly all habitual drunkards mainly consume beer. Occasionally they take rum, but the majority prefer a compound on which they can get drunk by degrees. An artistic "awiper" likes a good fill for his money,and consequently avoids concentrated essences calculated to knock him over at once. Publicans make little or no profit out of spirits, hence the unselfish proposal to place an additional tax on brandy. Themostaflect"ing objectieh of all, howeveiywas reserved to; the last. Mr^)Sharpe, on 'behalf of the deputation, felt afraid .that the tax would "be the means of throwing the trade into the hands, of a few monopolists." . What a shocking consummation in the eyes of a deputation formed of, the wealthiest brewers in the country ! .What a chivalrous desire to preserve the public against monopoly, and: maintain a healthy competition against their own firms regardless of consequences 1:.-.' The proposal made by Mr Ballance to attain the same results through adduction of the-duty on English beer did not, however, present itself to the brewers in,: the same light. We trust, however/ that this beautiful trait in the character of r the deputation.—their solicitude on behalf of the weaker and poorer brethren— will make atonement for their other follies, not the least of which is the patriotic suggestion by Mi- Joel that the Government should forego one of the farthings proposed to be taken off sugar, and continue to milk the uncomplaining cousumers of that commodity to the tune of £34,000, that the brewers may escape scot free. We are very sorry to observe that the implied threat /pf adulteration made at the meetings in Auckland was repeated yesterday. As :an /argument by an outsider,- this may be allowable, but coming officially rfrom the, trade it: is indec'eritJ and improper,; .and oaly' calculated to lower in public estimation.the community which this5 :deputation;-:professes to represent. If,- pn> such? flight provocation as a three half-pennyetax, they arie ready to talk of poisoning usfall^ by the. introduction of deleteViouscOmpdunds lihtd our beef, their! mercantiiejH-.flipralejrf.: cannot be ""very 'MgUji u iiuckily ■"'weij/ineed not « pay anuch attentionCto -these threats.'■ It is just possibl^soni^lmayiitEyTtdn sucnltr|cks, but evervpne^'acqiiam|ed .with the beer trade iff awai'e;tb:at^the ;production,and sale of an» .unsound articlei will injure the vendor to a* much! greater an&'more lasting extent than it'will1 his^customers, v '• - : . ,