A TEA V BEER TAX

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1877, 26 June 1888, Page 2

A TEA V BEER TAX

A correspondent, of the " Southland News " is exercised over the rumored indention of the Government to increase the duty on beer and reduce the tax on tea. He works the subject m the following fashion :—'• The proposed duty on tea is 6d per Ib. Now, tea m its purchasing state is useless for consumption until it ia converted into a beverage. 1 am given to understand that lib of tea will make from seven to eight gallons of beverage ; but for my example I am content. to accept the quantity brewed as six gallons Now, six galone ut 6d (the duty on purchased material) shows a return to rev aue of Id per gallon, whereas one gallon of beer produces to the same branch a result of 3d ; or, m other words, the community haa to imbibe three gallons of tea before the revenue is benefited to the same extent as by the consumption of one gallon of beer The actual coat of either commodity is immaterial to the question of revenue. The argument of the luxury is olairaed by both articles of merchandise. I understand it to be the wish of the present Governmen to foster Dative industries. If bo, I would call attention to the fact that all the money for th.9 purchase of tea is sent ovt of the oolony, whereas the ingredients for the brewing of Deer are bought within the colony ; therefore the money remains m our midst.