BEER DUTY EVASIONS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 2209, 26 August 1889, Page 3

BEER DUTY EVASIONS

" Onlooker " writes to the editor of the Dnnedin ♦'Stair":- I ' l *cc by the beer dnty letnrns for Joly that duty w»s paid upon 66,8C0gal of beer more than the corresponding couth of last year, Why this large Increase ? If onr population, Instead of decreasing tt the rate of 600 or 700 a month was Increasing tC the extent of 13,000 to 14000 a month, and fc*v«o Immlgrantn all beer drinkers, this 66,800 gallons wonld furnish tbem with s*al each per month. No doubt throughout tbe oolony trade has been slightly brisker, and locally the Exhibition demand looming In the Immediate fatnre has stimulated production, bnt after making all reasonable allowances the fact remains that tbe (apparent) Inoreaaad output must be credited to aome ether oauae. The oanse Is, no donbt, the beer duty prosecutions. If this be the case it shows not only what 11 big steals " havo been committed by the brewers, but one feels almost inclined to lelldve lt muat have been connived at. When these frauds are too glaring to be Sasaed over we find a Minister of the rown, au ex-Pr emler, Government profecutor, and Pol'oe Court Officials- all apparently anxious to hush these frauds pp, and hold any forced investigation m comers, with no Arguseyed P/eas or prying public present. When we find leading pub ie men anxious to screen "big steals" no wonder (mailer fry are Inclined to believe that money aod position _san, and often does, burk justice,"