Wairarapa Standard Published Tri-weekly, Price 1d. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 1885. Impending Tariff Changes.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume XVIII, Issue 1695, 17 June 1885, Page 2

Wairarapa Standard Published Tri-weekly, Price Id. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 1885. Impending Tariff Changes.

There are indications that the Government contemplate making considerable changes in the Customs tariff. Importers and merchants have taken alarm at this and there have been large quantities of tea, sugar, and oilier dutiable articles taken out of bond and the duty paid on them, within the last week. Why importers should fear that the Government mean to increase the duties on tea and sugar we cannot imagine. Messrs Stout and Ballance, who hold positions iu the present Ministry, were also members of the Grey Ministry, which went iu for “ a free breakfast table ” and reduced the tea and sugar duties. Surely Mr Stout and Mr Ballance would not falsify the action in the past, by agreeing to an increase in the duties on those articles, which enter so largely into the domestic consumption of the great mass of the people ? That is a very natural question to ask, hut nevertheless we are rather doubtful whether Mr Stout and Mr Ballance will remain staunch to their former views or. this point. Yogel is the real power in the Ministry and before him all his colleagues must fall down and tender abject submission, ff Yogol has decided that the duties on tea and sugar are to bo increased, then the other members of the Ministry will just require to swallow their objections and submit to his supreme will. Yet the present Government has been culled “ a people’s Ministry” —a Ministry which had at heart a siucere desiro to do everything possible for the working classes. We do not believe that the present Ministry has any principles at all Its members are ruled purely by considerations of expediency, and a desire to retain office. As to political principle, they do not care a single straw for such an old fashioned thing. The aspect of politics in this colony has become disgusting to the last degree. The whole thing is a more scramble for office. Those who are in place and power desire to keep there ; and those who are “ outiu the cold ” are eager for the loaves and fishes which are the accompaniments of office. 1