FEDERAL TARIFF AND BUDGET.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 9 October 1901, Page 3

FEDERAL TARIFF AND BUDGET.

Some Adverse Press Opinions.

Distinctly a Protective Tariff

New Zealand Produce Handi-

capped.

Sidney, This Day. The Sydney Daily Telegraph ” siates that Australia to-day staggers under the heaviest tariff it has ever been called on to bear. The tariff is higher than the average in the six States. This is -the price which Australia has to pay in order to protect Victoria’s exotic industries. Taken as a whole the Tariffis burdensome and will not yield so handsomely to the Treasury as anticipated. The Sydney “Herald" says that despite the Premier’s talk of revenue producing only a necessary Tariff, one opinion will prevail that it is of a protectionist character. Government has carefully given by its measure of protection to the dairy farmers and agriculturalists but they cannot be of much value for a time, as it is mainly against New Zealand produce. Objection will alsi be taken to tbo composite of Native Tariff, which has not given satisfaction in this State. Melbourne, Oct. 9,

The Age says that while the Tariff contains many admirable features, it will scarcely make good the ardent protectionist claims of the Government.

Amongst points in the budget is a proposal for one per cent sinking fund with provision that Government shall buy back its owu stock.

South Australia gains £45,000 from the new duties, while Tasmania loses £136,000, Queensland also loses. “ If Tasmania asks for assistance, we are in honor bound to assist,’’ declared the Treasurer, and will take the form of an advance without interest for a few years. Omitting narcotics stimulants, thq tariff averages 22 90 per cent, while with these articles included 34'99 is the average. There is a 1/* to 1/6 a gallon on beer; spirits are 14/- a gallon; wines 12/-; tobacco 3/6 per pound, sugar 6/- to 10/- a cwt, butter and cheese 3d per pound, eggs 6d a dozen, fresh fish and oysters 2/- per cwt, hops 6d a pound, meats, fish, poultry, and game Id per pound, onions !/• per cwt., potatoes 1/- per cwt., mineral water 20% ad valorem, tea 2d and 20% adjvalorem, texile fabrics 10 to 20% advalorem. Linotypes and similar printing machinery are exempted. Timber dressed 3-i per hundred super, feet, undressed 2s 6d. Timber undressed in sizes of twelve inches by six,' Is, in size seven by two and a half and less than twelve by six 6d. New Zealand pine undressed of sizes twelve by six and.9ver is exempted.