The Globe. THURSDAY AUGUST 15, 1878.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1404, 15 August 1878, Page 2

The Globe. THURSDAY AUGUST 15, 1878.

In a former article we dealt with tho customs remissions for the benefit of tho working classes which had been promised on the stump, but which, although affirmed by the head of tho Governmont to ho practicable, wove ciuclly omitted from tho financial prospects of his Government. But there is also another, scarcely less important portion of tho Colonial Treasurer's statement, described as a " Reform of the Tariff, to which the working classes would do wisely to turn their attention. Tho ostensible object of tho proposed I’Q-

form is tho conversion of ad valorem into specific duties. With this object it is probable that few will find fault. The condemnation of ad valorem duties is not a matter of to-day. For several years past the change has bom repeatedly urged by persons of all shades of opinion, and the statement of the nnprogrossivc character of the revenue from the articles taxed according to this system is conclusive on the matter. Thus far, therefore, v o believe that the Government are introducing a really desirable reform, and if only they had confined themselves to their avowed object, the change would have boon unexceptionable. That object will bo best described in the Treasurer's own words, which wore: — “ The object wo have in view is to change the ad valorem into specific duties: but wo cannot, with the data and time at command, do more than make a beginning this year. It is no part of our proposals to increase the total revenue, but to make the specific duty yield as near as possible the amount derived under the ad valorem .” To these last words wo desire to direct particular attention. Bearing them in mind the public, if they find that the Government proposals in this direction will lead to a considerable increase of duties, can come only to one of two conclusions, namely, either that the Ministers are dealing with matters of which they know nothing, or that in the words cited la deliberate attempt is made to misrepresent the real effects of the proposals.

Tho whole number of articles enumerated upon which tho change is to bo effected immediately is twenty-two, exclusive of boots and shoos, and a careful computation shows that in a groat many of these the duty is to bo increased. In one case, that of sparkling wines, the increase is avowed, and therefore no charge can bo founded on that head. Then in the case of sardines tho now duty is to bo Id per \ tin, which is estimated as being equal to 17 per cent, ad valorem, or more than half as much again as tho old duty. Similarly with jams, jollies, marmalade, salmon, and lobster. Sauces in pints are increased by threo-halfpouco per dozen above tho old rates, and pickles by threepence to fourpenco a dozen. On mustard, carbonate of soda, starch, and blue there is also a considerable increase. If now it had been pleaded that these things were all luxuries, and that for revenue purposes it was desirable to raise the duty on them, the argument would have been intelligible, and although objection might be taken to their being so designated, there would bo nothing dishonest about the attempt to increase the taxation. But this argument is one which the Colonial Treasurer guards himself particularly against being supposed to use, and therefore wo say that his proposed alterations, so far as tho articles we have enumerated are concerned. are either proposed in presumptuous ignorance, or lie is guilty of deliberate untruthfulness. We prefer of course to believe that the former is the case. Mr, Ballance at least has not in times past shown himself regardless of truth, and it is hard to believe that even his present political associations could have perverted him, at all events quite so quickly. Nothing has been said so far as to the duty on boots and shoes. Of those it certainly cannot ho pleaded that they are in any souse a luxury, and yet it would appear that the increase under the proposed duty will he by no means insignificant. Tho tax upon men’s boots is to be a shilling a pair all round. The old duty was 10 per cent. Supposing, therefore, that these boots wore invoiced indiscriminately at ten shillings a pair, the duty would he exactly the same under tho new as under the old tariff. But as a matter of fact, working men’s boots are invoiced as low as seven shillings. Tho old duty on those, therefore, would he 8-2" d, while the new will he a shilling, showing an increase of 3kl. On tho other hand, what may ho termed genteel hoots are invoiced from 12s. 6cl. upwards. Under the old tariff a fifteen shilling pair would have paid a duty of eighteen ponce; under the new the duty will he reduced by sixpence, or onethird. Similarly with respect to women’s hoots, on which tho duty is to he Bd.; under the new tariff tho commoner kinds, those worn by tho wives of labouring men will pay more than under the old system, while the delicately shaped, high-heeled kids of the fine ladies will pay proportionately less. It may he that on tho whole the revenue will ho neither increased nor diminished, hut it is quite clear that the incidence of taxation will be considerably changed in this particular —changed from the shoulders of the wealthier classes to those of tho poorer: that is to say, tho Government propose to make a change in a direction precisely the reverse of that which tho Premier’s most solemn pledges required them to take. There was no kind of need for treating either men’s or women’s boots respectively as necessarily all of a kind. Heavier duties could readily bo levied upon the fashionable kinds if tho Government had desired so to do. But they did not so desire, and hence their proposal to lay a new imposition upon tho wearers of the commoner kinds of boots in order that the more fastidious classes may he relieved. Even if wo suppose that the proposal is merely an error of ignorance, it is quite certan that it will ho small comfort to the men and women who feel tho effects of tho blunder to know that their friends have chastised them by mistake. Such occurrences are apt to shake confidence, and loosen friendships, and it may ho safely anticipated that a few more incidents of the kind will suffice to distract tho worship which the Premier’s oily oratory has attracted to his Government. Promises broken in numberless instances, remissions asserted to bo possible which are not made, electoral privileges said to belong to all which are not given, new taxes imposed upon those who were to ho relieved, contracts given to friends —these thing’s should do somewhat to dispel illusions, and enable tho people to judge the faithfulness of their self-proclaimed friends.