The Fielding Star. TUESDAY, JUNE 23, 1885. The New Customs Tariff

Feilding Star, Volume VII, Issue 5, 23 June 1885, Page 2

The Fielding Star. TUESDAY, JUNE 23, 1885. The New Customs Tariff

We have neither time nor space to go into the whole question of the several increases made on articles imported, but we will confine ourselves to making a few remarks on the increase of the duties on spirits and tea. In his Financial Statement the Colonial Treasurer said that alcoholic beverages, from which the heaviest Customs returns have hitherto been received, are showing a diminished consumption. Both these facts are eminently gratifying—the latter, from a moral and social point of view, the exceeding value of which it would be impossible to exaggerate; the former, for both utilitarian and social reasons of only less importance. To put the case briefly, a less consumption of intoxicating drinks means increased happiness and social well-being, and larger local production means increased prosperity. The returns of Customs duties on spirits during the last three financial years are suggestive. They are as follow:— 1882-83, £410,517; 1883-84, £403,500; 1884-85, £377,696; and for the first two months of the present financial year the receipts have been at the rate of only £366,624 a year. No doubt these figures would be gratifying if they truly represented increased sobriety, but by those who look closer into the subject, reasonable doubts may be expressed as to the absolute truth of the deductions made from them. We are told that for three years the revenue collected from alcoholic beverages imported has steadily decreased, and although the population of the colony is steadily increasing such revenue still continues to fall off. We do not believe that the true cause has been assigned as a whole, although we admit that in part, in so far as increased sobriety of the people is concerned, they are correct. The true cause of the falling off is that revenue is not collected on all the spirits imported or made in the colony. We mean that smuggling and private distillation are increasing in direct ratio as the revenue decreases. The enormous duty now obtaining on spirits is a powerful temptation for unscrupulous persons to defraud the revenue of the colony. It must not be forgotten that the crime or sin of smuggling is looked upon as a very pardonable one, by very many persons, in fact at Home, Custom House officers declare that the temptation to smuggle is seldom or never resisted by anyone, gentle or simple, pious or wicked. Hence the wonderful vigilance they display. We know that even "the bright skies, and balmy gales" of New Zealand have not changed human nature in this respect, and people are just as prone to rob the revenve here when they can do so in comparatively safety, as in the Old Country. According to the Colonial Treasurer's figures about £84,000 has been lo.it to the country in three years, which sum we believe has gone into the pockets of private individuals. If one tenth of this money had been expended in keeping up an efficient revenue service and coast guard, the whole or a greater part might have been saved. Now that the tariff has been still further augmented the losses to the revenue may be expected to be still further increased. On the subject of the duty on tea, we hold that there was no necessity to increase at the rate of fifty per cent. The jump is too great, and out of proportion to that on other items in the tariff. We have a firm faith in a cheap breakfast table. The only good effect this may have) will be of compelling merchants to import only the best classes of tea, as the tariff makes no distinction, and for a better article, the real tea drinker will always be willing to pay a better price. In conclusion we venture to think that Sir Julius Vogel has thrown down the guantlet to the Freetraders who are rapidly forming themselves into a defined body, but whether they have a champion bold enough to take it up remains to be seen.