THE NEW TARIFF

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10046, 5 February 1896, Page 3

THE NEW TARIFF

la all that can be desired— a Government point of view. It is also all wrong ami ill-advised— an Opposition point of view; and .it will be genorally conceded that the man has uot yet been born that can construct a tariff which will not provoke ridicule from tho common or garden observer. However, something had to be done, and it was only to be expected, after tho provincial tour of the Commissioners, that it would lie something funny. But it was really touching to follow the said Commissioners on their round, and watch the etiblimo self-sacrifices offered by the successive suggestors." One man would come along and say that he was "running a factory" (we will say) for the tinning ot garfish, and while not wishing anything out of the way, would suggest a duty of 350 por cent, ad val. 011 tinned fish of all kinds. It is only natural that this should be followed by another pa triot who had a larae stock of second-hand collin-plates, aud in tho 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 bo 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 iuto public favour.