THE REVISED CUSTOMS TARIFF

Evening Post, Volume LXXIV, Issue 18, 20 July 1907, Page 14

THE REVISED CUSTOMS TARIFF

VARIOUS VIEWS. TO THE EDITOE. Sir.— lt is a pity that the Colonial Ticasurer in making his Financial Statement did not take the opportunity afforded him of sweeping away the rem uaut of duty left by the late Mr. iSeddon on tea. Instead, he proposes to very materially increase, and not "reduce" it, as you say in your is3ue of yesterday. He appears to have been led into what I cannot but think a serious blunder by a circular "circulated by a number of merchants amongst members of Parliament." This petition, which the Treasurer has granted and followed, contains numbers of misslatemenls of a sneeious kind, and has misled Sir J. Ward." Tho reports of the statements as to the tariff published rhow that he quoted this document. You report him as saying : "As packing" can he done more satisfactorily in New Zealand tho duty will bo fixed at 2d' per lb upon packets containing up to Sib in weight." Now, the petition wishes to keep all small packages which are packed at the place where tho tea is grown out of the colony because of tho reason givon above, letting only "bulk" (chests and half-choßta) come in, alleging that "teas imported in bulk— i.e., in chests and halfchests — receive less handling by coolies, and keep better thau those enclosed in imported packets and boxes, and consequently are better for the public." This is not correct, aa all teas packed in Ceylon and India (from winch countries all our supplies come), whether packed in chests or half-chests (bulk) or smaller packages (boxes or packets), are packed on tho spot, and receive tho one handluig. Local-ly-packed teas are less likely to keep because of less suitable conditions and equipment, besides being packed in tho colony by inexperienced Lands, and receiving an extra handling, and cannot possibly be so fresh as, thoso packed at the place of growth ; so that wo have under this proposal not only to pay more for our tea, but do not get it bo good. Tea is a particular necessity for our pocpld, and is ono of tho most prominent foods in every house, as everybody knows, placed as it is on the table at every meal. And hero our Treasurer proposes to increase tho trouble of our poor people by making it more difficult to got small packets and boxes. Most of our people buy in small quantities, and as of course they will still get small quantities it will bo at increased cost or of inferior quality. This tew move is mado in the interests of the very fow, and is distinctly not in that of tho many, but at the expense of the many. I am just afraid that our Treasurer may loao sight of the idea (and tho true ideal)) that his work should be in the direction of lowering burdens and taxation rather than of making them heavier, of taking them off rather than putting them on. — I am, etc., TEAPOT. Wellington, 18th July, 1907.

TO THE EDITOB. Sir, — The new Customs tariff is not likely ,to please everybody, but there is ono ; item alone which should certainly raise a howl of protest from all fair-mind-ed people. I refer to the placing of motorcars on the free list. If there is one thing more than another that it is legitimate to draw revenue from it ia tho smello-car ; the man who can afford to pay from £800 to £1500 for a vehicle is not likely to be unable to pay also a 20 per cent, duty on it, and it eocms a disgraceful thing altogether when it is considered that perambulators, for instance, have an impost of 20 per cent. The worst feature of it is that tho officers who drew up the tariff had placed a duty on motor-cars, but at the last moment before tabling the proposals the alteration, was made. It would be l interesting to know who was responsible for this alteration. — I am, etc., QUERY. Wellington, 18th July.

TO THE EDITOn. ■ Sir, — It is .amusing to read that the Minister 'of H L4bour considers ' a ' Board of Control necessary to regulate the 1 profits on the necessaries of life. It ia not the merchant who makes the profits, buf the Government. ,' Tho duty on potatoes to Auckland alone amounts to £200 weekly ; this is at an average of 10s per ton. Last season tho duty amounted to from 30s to £2 per ton. New Zealand! requires 100 tons of onions a week from Australia, and , the duty is 20s per ton. Take flour at 20s per ton, and wheat at 9d per cental duty, it- means a halfpenny tho 41b loaf. Those excessive duties are the cause of tho high prices of the necessaries of life. The wheat grower does riot require protection with his average of thirty bushels to tho acre as against the Australian average of twelve. If the necessaries of life are- to bo reduced it must be brought about by absolute free trade. It is years sinco the late Premier advocated a free breakfast table. When is it to bo an accomplished fact? — I am, etc., PATER. Melbourne, 12th July.