THE BUDGET AND THE BREWERS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5422, 13 August 1878, Page 3

THE BUDGET AND THE BREWERS.

{New Zealand Herald , Bth last.) The clause in the Fnancial Statement having reference to the additional stamp duty of l£d. per gallon on beer created no small amount of commotion yesterday amongst those interested in that particular trade. The provisional passing of the Statement put the Customs officers on the alert, and at an early hour they had virtually taken possession of the breweries in the city and suburbs, prohibiting the forwarding of beers ordered without the necessary duty stamps being attached. The brewers took prompt steps to place themselves right. They held a meeting at the Auckland Hotel, which was convened by Mr. Mowbray, in the forenoon, at which every brewer in the vicinity was represented, and passed a resolution to charge 2d. per gallon extra on their bear. The publicans of course did not at first like this aspect of affairs, and many people in that trade met at street corners to consider the new situation. Those who took the most active part in the discussion urged that a meeting of all publicans should be called, at which a resolution should be passed, prohibiting any publican from selling beer at less than 6d. per pint. This meeting is called for Friday, and as it is not called under the authority of the Licensed Victuallers* Association, that body will probably take separate action. The position at present is this ; The Government put a duty of l£d. a gallon on beer, and at the same time take a per lb. off sugar, which is said to be largely used by brewers. Notwithstanding this they, at their meeting yesterday, resolved to increase the price by 2d. per gallon—“that is to say, a half-penny more than the tax, even had there teen no reduction in the price of sugars. Then the publicans want to increase the price 2d, per pint, making an increased cost to the consumer of Is. 4d. per gallon, and all this for an extra duty of per gallon, which'is scarcely appreciable. At all events, the consumers of beer, if the brewers and publicans carry their points, will have to pay at the rate of a heavy percentage on account of the alteration in the tariff. We may add that many leading publicans in Queen-street strongly object to the proposed round robin, and it is very unlikely that it will'be adopted. An effort will no doubt be made to throw the burden on the brewers, on. the ground that the immense prices which they have offered and paid for licensed houses shows that their profits can well sustain the additional tax.