A WAR TAX AND THE BEER DUTY.

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2510, 10 July 1915, Page 12

A WAR TAX AND THE BEER DUTY.

I Sir,—As Parliament shall be dealing with a war tax - shortly, and is likely to increase tho taxation or duty on wines, and spirits, but as yet there, is no mention, of an, increased beer duty. Parliament have liero an opportunity that will meet-with tho approval of tho_ whole Dominion. There is not tho slightest doubt that any taxation' that is required to cover our oxpenses in this war could ,bo raised by an increased beer It must bo admitted that our Governments in tho past have not dealt with- this trust as should. Tho brewers! monopoly is one of tho largest trusts that exists in this country, and its members , aro tho wealthiest in the Dominion. .-.The largo landholders are doing their share, as wo see by rarapa, and I have no doubt aro' prepared to still bear a fair amount of the taxation; but it remains to be seen how the brewers' representatives in Parliament will support a beer tax. AVo shall see then;, I expect, concealing their concern as usual behind the "tax-thc-squatter -howl," which they, have used as a useful cloak for so long! The profits of tho beer monopoly are enor--mous, as everyone knows, as they have a'monopoly' under tlio protection of the laws of-the country, ' Those laws provide that there camiot •be an .increase in licenses ""for breweries or hotels,-thereby increasing tho beer monopoly profits. They aro protected by the law as to monopoly, as no other business is in the country, therefore their 'profits' are increasing with tho growth of population. . How would we fare if tho same class of-laws as protect the beer -monopoly were to apply to others, such as butchers, bakers, dairymen; otc. I will conclude by again saying that all the. taxation to pay. for our share in this great war should be drawn from the spirits aild beer i consumed in the country, without any increase to tho consumer, as far as beer is concerned, and leave necessities of life free from any. increase—l, am, etc., / FAIR TAX.