DUTY ON NECESSARIES OF LIFE.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 13484, 26 July 1907, Page 5

DUTY ON NECESSARIES OF LIFE.

Then as to the abolition of the duty on flour and potatoes — That was a matter of policy, and it was just as well io speak out plainly. The policy of the Government Lad been to protect as far as possible anything that could be pro* duced in the, colony. They had taken off a considerable amount of dirty, but whether the consumer was going to get the benefit of it or not time alone would' show. There was the instance .v$ kerosene. A little while ago the sixpence a gallon duty was taken off and to-day kerosene was dearer than when that duty was on. Then they had the case of tea. They took off the. duty of Cd per lb. He could remember, that, when the duty was on, tea was Is 6d a lb; tho lowest he had seen it since the remission of duty was Is 4d. The only satisfaction was that the tea was now of bettor quality. Personally he did not«se«j much difference. He questioned very much whether, if they took the, duty off flour, our mills would not be closed down and they would not have a "corner" formed by the dealers in Australia.