The Bruce Herald. "Nemo me impune lacesset." TOKOMAIRIRO, NOVEMBER 14, 1879.

Bruce Herald, Volume XII, Issue XII, 14 November 1879, Page 3

The Bruce Herald. " Nemo me impune lacesset." TOKOMAIRIRO, NOVEMBER 14, 1879.

Iy a recent issue we made a few remarks in reference to the revision of the Customs Tariff of New Zealand, as regards import duties. "We now offer a few sugges'lons on the subject of export duties, under which head we have hitherto only been paying duty on gold. The latest p irlia* meutaryiutelligenceinformsusthattheGold Duties Abolition Bill has been shelved for the present Session, in so far as the second leading of the BH was negatived, though only by a majority of one. This shows that, had there been a full House instead of only 53 members, the chances were in favor of the abolition. The failure of the measure is, to some extent, counterbalanced by the reduction of the fee for Miners' .Rights ; but, on the whole, the miner still remains taxed, proportionately, to a greater extent than other classes of the community, particularly the squatter. On the priuciple of equity it may fairly be asked whether the latter class bas not as good a right to pay export duty on wool, as the ?**>iner has to pay on gold. The more so as the squatter is suie of his yearly crop of wool, while the digger has to trust entirely to good luck for getting his gold ; and even when he gets it it is obtained amongst; dangers, difficulties, and hardships, while the runholder gener ally takes matters pretty easy and comfortable while the wool is steadily growing ou vbe backs of bis sheep. Indirectly, an export duty on wool would be an income tax, and -would of course also touch a good few of those farmers who own small flocks of sheep. But if such a tax were imposed, it naturally follows that the present charge of 2s per 100 sheep, levied and collected by a small army of sheep inspectors, would have to be abolished. This would materially reduce the duties of the inspectors, and their number could be thinned in proportion, which would mean reduction in useless expenditure. Taking the total number of sheep in the Colony in round figures at 12,000,000, and assuming that the average clip would be 31bs., we would liave 36,000,0001b5. of wool Supposing an .export duty of -\d were put on, the pro- * ?d.« would amount to L 37,500, and the jk action of this sum would not cost an extra Shilling, as the export entries through the Cv* ,tom "k° use wOU,d undergo no alteration whatever, beyond filling in the ■amount ot'daty, which would be received by the* collectors, in the usual routine, -without a_J additional trouble. The proposal ofa roea-^e like this may be open •to a great jna^y arguments, particularly on tbe part Of tfee wool growers, •but we can sea nothing but fairness aud justice in if, wtasn advocating a principle of &»' ta ** fcxon upon all classes of the community. Wool, while subject to occasional fluctuations m the market, has steadily risen in price as compared with its value 20 years ago. And yet the freight to Europe has, during the same period, fallen fully 50 per centum, while the wages paid to the hard--working shearer have come down in like proportion, namely from SOs to 15s per /^sandred. The squatter is a slippery k Corner — always willing and deiev* CU f *i tO oppose a jusc impost, bufc tor lamev calculating how to reduce e-vet* sk 0 f t ne j^boring man. Ifanextbe wages were esfca bii s hed, it p«fc_duty v v a Just and equitable

to an increase in woollen niariuf-dtftres On the other hand no professional >hearer would need to be afraid of additional reduction for his Ittbor, us the price paid now is on the lowest possible scale, if the flock owner wishes to have his sheep clipped in a careful and workmanlike manner; and with advantage to himself.