Daily Circulation, 1660. The Oamaru Mail. MONDAY, AUGUST 12, 1895.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XX, Issue 6331, 12 August 1895, Page 2

Daily Circulation, 1660. The Oamaru Mail. MONDAY, AUGUST 12, 1895.

In Victoria the State has been subsidising locally made spirits by a differential duty of 4s per gallon, and woollens by imposing a duty of 50 per cent on the imported article. It has now been discovered that the spirits are adulterated and that the woollens are largely composed of cotton and shoddy, whilst boots, also protected by a high tariff, have cardboard for leather in their soles. In the tariff readjustment which has taken place to meet such a state of things, local spirits will pay a "My of lis, jvbilst imported will be charged I2s, the difference in favor of locally decocted spirits being Is instead of 4s. It is strange that the Legislature did not feel such disgust at the cheatery of those whose businesses had been protected as to act with more severity. One of the chief consolations in connection with protection of local industries is the idea that, though local products may apparently be dearer, they will be more genuine and less deleterious, or more lasting, and therefore really cheaper, than imported commodities of the same kinds. This consolation na g been ruthlessly shocked by recent exposures in Victoria, which have done to discredit Protection than all the speeches or articles that have ever been written gainst it. When people are told, as they w«?re by Mr M'Coll that Messrs Joshua Bros, were manufacturing more spirits than the materials they used could produce, and that, therefore, their products must either be adulterated or ot poor quality, they are naturally all attention. Messrs Joshua's reply to the damaging impeachment was merely that they " rely upon their reputation to defend them against these aspersions." But, public suspicion and curiosity having been aroused by these disclosures, they are anxious to know what Messrs Joshua Bros, put into their spirits. If the attenuating element be only water, so long ae it is not out of the Xarra, or the Oamaru Creek, so much the better; but, as the possibilities of adulteration are infinite and the cupidity of manufacturers knows no bounds, one is naturally anxious when the composition of the article in doubt is something I that is to be swallowed. It is strange that there should be any adulteration of colonial spirits ; seeing that the materials for making them are comparatively so plentiful and cheap in the colonies. There has, indeed, been a general impression that the Australian brandy industry was consequent upon the large amount of the raw material which was available for its manufacture, and which would otherwise be wasted ; and we dare say that the article was as genuine as could be desired till the demand probably became large and the brand having secured a reputation a spurious product was substituted. But, if people will drink spirits,—and, though we Jay ourselves open to correction, we suppose that they must be used medicinally— tbeQ tne besfc course k to P ay the highest V*ce and buy the besfc imported, brmaketheiJi themselves.