OUR MEMBERS ON THE NEW TARIFF.

Colonist, Volume XVI, Issue 1657, 5 August 1873, Page 3

OUR MEMBERS ON THE NEW TARIFF.

To the Editor of the Colonist,

Sir,- —Just as might be expected, the Nelson Examiner takes advantage of the telegrams of the Nelson- members of the House of Representatives respecting tho new tariff, and conspicuously places before the public any sentences of its own supporters for public applause, and for the condemnation of those who are its opponents. Had this been done in a fair and straightforward way, no comment would have been drawn from me, but it has bo unfairly commented upon Mr. Luckie's telgram, thatsimple juatico to the absent leads me to say a faw words upon the subject. Here are the paragraphs as set forth in the Examiner :— " Mr. Curtis's reply—• lam strongly and decidedly opposed to the new tariff'—we hare previously given. " Double taxation on articles. Principle altogether wrong. E. J. O'Conob. "It nearly doubles taxation. A. S. Collins. "Official inform ition will bo given; cannot decide until possession of facts. C. Packer. " Reliable oflichl returns will soon be laid on table showing difference in taxation between the two tariffs. Cannot form opinion till I see them. A. J. Richmond. " I concur in principle of tariff as more equable, but think certain modification in rates and classification necessary. If importers exhibit false invoices, they should be punished far fraud and subject to flue and forfeiture. lam favorable to any judicious fiscal scheme, tending to improvement in prospects of internal production, to keep large portion of wages paid in Colony, and establish means for employing rising generation. Subjeot to certain modifications I shall support the tariff. D..M.-Luokib." Mr. Curtis is strongly opposed, not only to the tariff, but to any scheme Air. Vogel would or could propose,/t)ul; ) with his usual cunning, he carefully abstains from giving any reasons. Mr. O'Conor and Mr. A. S. Coliins make statements indicative of the men who epeak without thinking, and perversely prefer to remain bo ; this, according to the Examiner's version, is to "'look at tha question from an independent point of view."

Mr. Parker and Mr. Richmond, like sensible men, reserve their opinions until all the facts are laid fairly before them, and these gentlemen are set down as being " pledged to Mr. Vogel." The-Examiner must think its readers devoid of sense, if it belieyes such conclusions will be understood by the generality of its readers. But its greatest fulminationa are directed against Mr. Luckie, whose telegram is termed " wordy and obscure," until the last sentence is reached, and this is quoted as a proof that he has cast oft hia constituents and their interd9tß,and;'hasbdcomeatoolof Mr. Vogel's. Now, one of the pro3y drivellers of the Examiner once declared that.men were originally born without tools, and as civilisation has even extended to New Zealand, it is refreshing to learn from this erudite writer that we have the genuine article on the spot, and ready for n?e, sharp and well tempered ; and whilst on the subject qf tools, I may say without any. fear of contradiction, the <' tools" of that journal have ever been the supporters of what may.be called the effete and silly opposition to every poiicy of advancement, and taxing the " poor man" for the a,drqntage. of the rich setflepj who h#ve to the present succeeded in rapncjpolieing the beat lands and richss qf the Colony. But I digress. Mr. Luckie, boldly and outspoken as is,his wont, fearlessly says, "I concur in the principle of the tariff as more equable, bub think certain modifications in rates and classification nscesgary. Subject to certain modification*, I BhalJ support the tariff." Thi« is what the reviewer jn the Examiner interprets, " I shall •upport the tariff, right op wrong." Every importer knows, and every tax-payer ought to know, that under the present measure of outside package duty that it ia fearfully unjust to the " poor man," for instance/the duty paid on a bale of blankets, value £25, and by measurament about ?5 feet, is per foot j whereas, on a oase qf eilkg, value isjJOQ, say $> feet, only'sa. per foot'i| paid. Can iiij'ustice or unfairness be carried further. This principle of unfairness can be multiplied in a hundredfold instances. A glance at the package du,ty good.s will prove that it was framed sq tunf the largest duties were paid on the articles consumable by the laboring and industrial classes, and this was passed by the Stnfford-Monro-Curlis party, who so fortunately were ousted from their seats to give way to better n«n. Mr. Luckie has long seen the injustice of tin's act, and because he seeks to alter this crying injustice he is misrepresented as the abject slave ot Mr. yogel. I dgny that he is in diie.ct antagonism to the whole b« dy of his constituents, and I have little fear that he will redeem any pledge he has given in a far better spirit and xanner than did Sir David Alonro when he took the Speakerihjp. Let the people of Ifelsqn wait until the whole, of the subject and arguments are fairly laid before them, and if Mr. Luckia b,e not the man we thought or want, let us a(; once demand his re^ignatiqu.

Again, I must call particular attention to the latter sentence of Mr. t/uokie's telegram, and I fearlessly acpuse the writer of this precious article of wilful misrepresentation, Mr. Luokie concludes thus :— " Subject to certain modifications, I shall support the tariff"—the first portion in italics is omitted purposely in the comments called the " sting " by this critic—to mislead any electors who may carelessly read the article, but any sensible reader will at a glfpcg tee its purport, and its thorough misleading, as it gives "&ri opposite idea and meaning to that Mr. Luokie meant to convey. Lastly, Mr. Shephard is described " sitting on a rail," yet has made no sign. The only intelligence we have is by short telegrams. What right has it to be said thus of him except by " revelation." The leading artiols ponpludes with, the very epigrammatic warning fhaf now more than ever those who are not with the' people are againßt them—by which is meant that those who will not. subscribe for the penny worth of daily trash may spend a whole sixpence and have a "Saturday" with the piquant story of '< A Bomance of Murder" for Sunday delectation.—Yours, &c,

A CUETISITB.