South Canterbury Times, THURSDAY, JULY 10, 1890.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 6264, 10 July 1890, Page 2

South Canterbury Times, THURSDAY, JULY 10, 1890.

The reimposition of the primage duty has been the subject of much adverse comment in the House of Representatives, and in the Press of the colony, bub why this tax should be thought specially obnoxious we cannot understand. It was imposed for a limited time in the first instance, it is true, and for a specific purpose—to pay off some floating debts. That purpose has been served, and the Treasurer now says he most keep on the tax for another specific purpose,—to provide funds for 'school buildings and asylums. It is not denied that the buildings are required, and it is admitted that the money for them should come out of taxation. We cannot quite make out whether the •bjection is mainly to the name of the tax, to its being a tax upon merchants, to its being a tax upon the people generally, to its being a tax for a special purpose, or to its being a temporary tax. Some say it is an unfair tax, because it is so small that the merchants cannot “ pass it on ” to the consumers. The merchants, however, or some of them, declare they can, and do, make the consumers pay it, and we quite believe them. If it falls upon the people generally, howtos it worse than other Customs duties, the tea and sugar ‘ duties for instance 7 As for its special ; purpose in the past two years, and its ; proposed special purpose for the next two years, it is nothing less than ridiculous juggling with figures to keep it separate at all. The old Q 'ebts had to be paid, and if these jj U xidings are needed they should be wpplied ; the people must either find l money for them or do without tbem If they agree to find the money they can ‘ nofc P a y {t separately ; then why keen a s e P arate account of it P The worst feati. ' re °, £ this fi § h£ over £ P ri ’ mage duty i. ’ that a P° r£loQ o£ th J e . as ' ation and a p « rt,on » f fch * fP^iture are separated £i ' om the . r f sfc - 0 stand " fall together. A epecia. retrenchment involves a loss of special conveniences, and attention is i from the question of a genera. ' retrenchment. It is a “ pottering ” sort of acc ° a “ fc *1 ing, like that of the eo ' cal l led “ land fund,” and would be see u I be ndlca ' lons in a farmer who shou keep se Pa-

rate accounts of his profits on wheat, oats, and sheep, and of expenditures opposite each respectively, for, say wages, living and machinery.