THE NEW TARIFF

Lyttelton Times, Volume XCVI, Issue 11052, 2 September 1896, Page 2

THE NEW TARIFF

Is all that can be desired —from a Govern ’ment point of view. It is also all wrong and ill-advised —from an Opposition point of view; and it will be generally conceded that the man-has not yet been born that can construct a tariff which will not provoke ridicule from the common or garden observer. However, something had to be done, and it was only to be expected,: after, the provincial tour of the Commissioners, that it would be something funny,' 'Hut it was really touching to follow the said Commissioners on their x’ound, and watch the sublime self-sacrifices offered by the “ successive suggesters.” One man would come along and say that he. was “running a factory ” (we wall say) for the tinning of garfish, and while not wishing anything out of the way, would suggest a duty of 350 per cent ad val. on tinned fish of all kinds. It is only natural that this should be followed by another patriot who had a large stock of second-hand coffin-plates,-and in the pure love of his country, and for the sake of the revenue, he would think it desirable that a tax of, say, seven shillings an ounce should be put on all this class of- imports. Anything apparently for their country’s good,' while one of the main sources of revenue last year was derived from the duty paid on the large and ever-increasing shipments of Vanity Fair Cigarettes, which have steadily made their way into public favour.

After considerable debate it was decided to apply to have the protection taken off hares only. The grass-seed on the Council’s roads -was ordered to be sold by auction in October. Accounts amounting to .£477 were passed for payment, and the Council rose.