TARIFF REVISION .

Southland Times, Issue 19799, 19 April 1906, Page 2

TARIFF REVISION .

It is now understood that the statement made by the Premier at Kangiora with reference to the revision of (lie Customs tariff was in.nvet ly reported, and that it, is Ids intention to bring the question I" tore tlie lirst session of the new Parliament; Mr Sedthm's proposals I'till follow Ihe two main lines which ’h.i'e already been indicated, viz., the j “ tree breakfast table " and the x’c--1 duct ion of tlie duty on tobacco. As jt.i the first proposal there can be !hnl little diliereltee of -opinion. For 1 .Mrs pad. the Colonial Treasurer li a s been mulcting the-taxpayers in an ! annual sum greatly in excess of Ids . 'punditnr.-. In spite of this cxccs-* I'-'iV" revenue he lias continued to burton h- a'ilv for the purpose of pubi lie works ; his surpluses lut'd not I been used to decrease the indrbtcdi ness of the colony, or to prevent its '-vr.-.f-e, Conseipiently, the Troa‘turer is in duty bound to return to lb- taxpayers any amount lie may reeeiv,- if urn iliem ovor ami above i ihe re pijrements of his ordinary expemliiare. Tills i , etiirn can lake no better ini-in than reductions in the duties on articles of food in common consumption and other necessaries .of j life, ii is ealciilated that the workling man who earns £2 a week, ami

, It;;s .1 vim ami throe children pays u 1! ■ t;I!s tai l of his wages in Customs ! tbit lea. and of course if Ids family is larger : ind his income smaller the ’ fu-opori it>n it. all tbe Higher. That lhe cost .if living Ims increased in rerem years cannot he o'ititisaitl, and ilt-iefoie in continuing to pile up

surphi- r.-venue without in any way i ai;i r the weight of this heavy burden Hie Premier lias bum guilty of ■ I'oHi,.injustice to the poorer of lh' community. luasii a hj a- ; It" inis no intention what-

■ . i c.-iociiuv ids calc of borrowin'''. i: is incumbent upon him to reduce (ho cost of ” iiccos Maries as far as his expenditure will allow. In his si'i-ir hj at Rangiora Air Sed-il-im milon il I oil n list of food stuffs

-id materials used for clothlrie- on which roduct ions could bo made i iug £IIOO,OOO pm- annum. VHdle tlie saving to the wuac-cavn-ilc, tb -so reductions- would un--111111 -I--ill.' 1,0 considerable, it is not easy to (mil my real reason why I'a riiaiism' should not abolish some off Hi- duties altogether. U would il.-- tourli led lor. for instil net', to do

o\\ a y with thi‘ duty on sugar than to iiin;ni any ivilin.-l.ion on the duly on tooac.'o ; ml similarly raisins, currants. Ira anil rollon goods might vm-U hr ailmillrd free. In'olio suin Mr Si-ildon inU-nds to forego -tloO,o | ’,l| war on the duty on tobacco. The duty- reroivod on refined sugar amounted in 1 ( d"l to C 101.826, and it would be a mndi greater boon (o I lie working classes to admit sugar free, than to rebate the duty on iobaiTo by Is Id per B), We hope--1 hat i’arliamenl will insist upon alien'ion being lirst given to genuine m-'-i ssai-ies. Air Keddon might as well propose to ivdnee the duty on whisky as that on tobacco. It rs a pure bribe, inasmuch as if any hardship is involved the worker can de-

iti-iih- hjs; consumption of tobacco or slop smoking' altogether. The most meini assistance dial, can lie afforded in him is that which will enable him lo I'eml and clothe his family ‘more, clieapl.'. and any revision of the Cost.mis tariff should lie eonducieil with due regard to tins principle.