The New Tariff

Southland Times, Issue 10996, 27 July 1907, Page 1 (Supplement)

The New Tariff

To the Editor. Sir, — It is most refreshing, to realise that at last the down-trodden rich will ha' e a little ease from their taxation, cruel and unjust as it is. One notices with ihankiuduess that the duty is removed from mottoiVtars. it is nothing short oi scandalous to think that when a man has scraped enough to spend XSUO on a motor car that he should be mulcted in 2u or 25 per cent. duty. No wonder that motor cars have been put on the free list ! Then, again, there arc silks. The poor people "’ have been suffering from an o>c.,.;us of riches which they have boon compelled ito spend in silks and so forth, in the past have paid 25 per cent, duty but now they are reduced to 20 per cent., which, must inheed bo a matter of gratixicaition to them. Then there is that fearful tax on sheep. Everyone knows the impoverished condition of the wool industry, largely due to the low prices prevailing for wool. In the face of this, a heavy tax was levied on the poor sheepmasters. How pleasant it is to think (that this will now be lifted, and that an opportunity will be given to them a hen the wool rises a little in price to make a few pounds.

There is, naturally, the other side of the question to consul', that oi the Free Breakfast Table. It is most delightful r.o contemplate the large redactions that have been made in this direction. In the past, the public was always assured if they could not got pure Ceylon tea iu ,11b or yet in ItHoz packets, they could always bo certain oi getting it in 511> boxes direct from Ceylon. This has now been done away with, ami the 515 boxes will pay in future 2d per 15, so as to help a Fie L > Breakfast Table, lit will materially assist tea blenders, who, in season and out oi season, continually pester the Government for one thing and another—duties on this and duties off thart, prohibitions for this and injunctions against that, little petitions which generally duel their source of origin in Wellington and lilter up and clown the colony, dually being returned as dead weights to be attached to the string by which political levers are moved and the request granted* It is a remarkable thing that the ten trade should be able to exorcise so strong an influence o v or the Government. but we presume they must bo complimented upon the manner in which they make petitions serve their purposes.

Then there is the question of boots. Of course, before a person can approach the “ Free ” Breakfast Table he must put on his “ free ” boots, which, in this case, will cost him Is Gd more than ever before. He will also Pmd that in order ito gel his “Free” Breakfast he will have to light his free candles, which cost him Ad per lb more than before : but he will have this .consoling thought, that the sugar pays nothing to the Government, while there is Td per lb off the washing blue.

N'o doubt there is something in lh’ Tariff to be thankful for. if one could only see it. There arc. for instance, the hosiery trade and the woollen industry, which for years have been struggling to get a footing and to hold their own against the prevailing high price of wool—an industry maintaining. 1 suppose, thousands of hands in the colony, handicapped on every point by huge importations of shoddy and sweated-made garments ; but no relief has been given to these people. Unfortunately, the manufacturers have something to learn from the tea trade and the beet industry, btiit. anyhow, there is always the Id off blue, and that is something to be thankful for. —I am. etc.. TARIFF REFORM. Julv 19.