AN OPINION ON THE TARIFF.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 849, 8 June 1888, Page 20

AN OPINION ON THE TARIFF.

(TER TRESS ASSOCIATION.) Christchurch, Juno 5. The Committee of the Chamber of Commerce has passed "a series of resolutions affirming that the tariff aud the financial proposals of th i .Colonial Treasurer are not entirely satisfactory, and that while the Government is to to be congratulated on the large amount of retrenchment effected, further savings in the expenditure should be made to obviate as far as possible the necessity for increased taxation. The Committee recommend the raising of the minimum school age to six years, and is of opinion that large economies might be made in the management of the railway. In order to make the raising of the revenue fall move equally on all classes, it suggests the reduction of the property-tax exemption from £SOO to £250, the same to apply in all cases. It considers the proposal of primage duty preferable as a temporary expedient to funding a corresponding amount of the deficit. The Committee approves the increased duties on teas, wines, and cigars as being taxes that will fall equally on all classes of the community without inter, fering with the course of trade. It considers many of the duties proposed in the new tariff are not sueh as should be adopted for the a vowed purpose of securing additional revenue and promoting local industries ; that in any case where it may be deemed politic to afford incidental assistance to any local industry under the tariff framed, also for revenue purposes, it is unwise to fix any higher duty than 15 per cent ad valorem.m addition to the proposed primage ; but the proposal to impose duties on certain articles and implements used in agriculture and mining is specially burdensome to those interested, and an economic inconsistency, _ seeing that the various articles and materials ÜBed in secondary and incidental industries are admitted free.

Invercargill, J une 5. At the meeting of the Chamber of Commerce to-day, the Special Tariff Committee reported that they were of opinion that the Legislature would be acting more in accordance with the interests of the community by still further retrenching the cost of the Public Service, by raising the school age to six years, and by, if necessary, granting (sic —query, "abolishing”) subsidies to local bodies rather than by adding to the general taxation. The Committee recommended numerous alterations in the tariff, the general tendency being toward reduction, The report was adopted.