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Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3196, 26 September 1881, Page 2

When our representatives meet the electors it would be as well if the following question were asked :—" Why did you leave your parliamentary duties before the session came to a close ?" The reply will probably be that there was no more work to be done, and no object could be served in assisting to " slaughter the innocents." This answer, however, will scarcely satisfy the electors. The last fortnight was in fact the most important of the session. In that time the property tax was reduced to one half-penny, and certain duties were placed on articles largely consumed by the working classes. It will interest working men to know that on and after October Ist next there will be imposed a duty on imported bacon and ham of 2d per lb., and an extra half-penny put on jams and preserves. To this extent the grocers' bills will be increased. It is absurd to say that the duty on bacon will keep diseased meat from coming into the colony, or that I__ per lb on jams will encourage local industries. Mr Ballance, who regards himself as a Liberal, supported tbe imposition of these new duties on the ground that the tariff should be protective. Major Atkinson supported his own measure on the ground that it kept up the duty on articles that would give the largest revenue. If then the new duties imposed by the Customs and Excise Bill were required for revenue purposes, why has the property tax been reduced? Let Mr Sutton and Captain Russell—Government supportersanswer this question.