Beer v. Tea.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 5252, 22 June 1888, Page 2

Beer v. Tea.

, ( LBRBOUI to DAIIT TKnEOBAHI.J » [OWN COKEESPONDENT.—BT TEESeEAMI.I ' Invkboaegiu,, Last night. A correspondent of the Southland News is exercised over the rumored intention of' the Government to increase the duty on beer and reduce that on tea. Ho works on the subjeot in the following fashion:—%,. "The proposed duty on tea ia ebepenoa per ponnd. Now tea in its purchasing state ia useless for consumption until converted into a beverage. lam given to understand that one pound of tea will prodnce from seven to eight gallons of beverage, but for my example I am content to accept the quantity browed ac six gallons. Now- six gallons at ' sixpence (duty on purchased material) eliowa a return to tho revenue of ono penny per gallon, whereas one gallon of beer produces threepence, or in other words the oomiuunity has to imbibe tfareo gallona of tea before the revenue is benefittod to tho same extent as by tho consumption of one gallon of beer. The actual cost of either commodity ia immaterial to the question of revenue. The argument of luxury is claimed by both articles of merchandise. I understand it to be the -wish of the uresent Govbrnraont to foster native industrfee. If 80, I would call your attention to the fact that all money for the purohase of tea i> sent out of tho colony, whereas ell in« grodionta for the brewingof beer are bought within tho colony, therefore the money remains in our midet."