WHAT THEY DID AND WHAT THEY WILL DO.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 17629, 5 December 1922, Page 4

WHAT THEY DID AND WHAT THEY WILL DO.

A REMINDER. The liquor party hopes to persuade the public to grant them another three years during which to plunder the drinking public. It pretends to be very much concerned lest the Government should I'cse revenue —even teds untnnh-i about the revenue it does yield. But the hypocrisy of its attitude, and its shameless profiteering were exposed in January last in the following statement, which has since b;en repeated, but has never yet been contradicted or denied. If Prohibition is not carried, then the same old game of raising priues aJid ssrving inferior liquor will go on as before: '"reform" is n pretty word that will go out of knowledge as far as the liquor traffic is concerned. Now then, see how patriotic and philanthropic the liquor traffic is: — LIQUOR TRAFFIC AIMS TO SCOOT £1,500,C00. PROFIT ON NEW DUTIES NOT PAiD ON SPIRITS. "When the liquor traffic got the hint that spirit dut.es were to be increased', they mads haste to get spirits out oi bond at the old rate of 18s per gallon before the new duty of S6s_ was inipiwt.'d. The "N.Z. Times" of January sth last carried a statement that "very little revenue can be expected from spirits for some months to ccmc, as it is estimated that no less than an eighteen months' or two years' suppo' was thus released from bcr.d." Taking this to be true, what is the position ?

REVENUE DOWN

In the year 1920 the total imports of branclv, gin, rum, and whisky wcr: 1,008,093 gallons. Take it as a. million gallons for twelve months. 'then an eighte-'n months' supply is l,5!J0,00o gallons taken out of bond at I'3s per gallon duty when the Government estimated getting 3>os p:r gallon. 'lln; means the revenue wi.l bo down £1,350,000. PRICES UP. On Decern for 12th the We Kington licensed victuallers had 1 a meeting at which it was stated that "the increased charge on spirits had been ncccsMtae-.. through the extra- tariff lately placed on all spirits." Note, the extra tariff had not been paid. On D-ceini'er l<Jtb an increase of 2s G:1 per bottle was anncunced. The National Ex.cuuve ot the Licensed Trade of New protestsd against the iiicrea, ed tann, which, it said, "must necessari.y compel'' an increase in price to the consumer. the "'voluntary taxpayer. Note, tlie tariff had not boon paid at the increased rate.

WHAT IT MEANS. If eighteen months' supples have been taken out at the old rate, then the position is Accord in;; l-> whisky makers' statements there are Ij3tweon eight and nine bottles or wi.dsky to the gallon. At eight bottles t.ie tariff .adds 2s 3d per bottle; ths trade h-as added 2s Gd, a profit oi 2s p-r gallon on the tax. Hie tax amountjn'i to £1,350,000 has not been paid.' Ine public is to bs made to pay this, plus £IOO,OOO profit 011 it, makinsx_n tot a; profit to the liquor traffir: of not a penny of which will go _as 11-w spirit t;.x into the revenue. Il a two years' supply has bo-'n take 11 o''U ti:e ultimate p;-olit will he £'i,o-jO.OCO. Ine Government wi!J be so much out on revenue, the public is made to pa\ more, and the liquor tni'hc pockets what the Government exacted to get olus its own profit on the new tarnl. ~nd sits back chuckling over a b:g c:,s.: c.iop got at the cxpenss of evervhod -ise—and yet it claims to Ik- r. revenue >ri!vidnr. Vote out tho unpfiti ltt.t jrofiteers.—N.Z. Alliance Publicity. ipj)