EXPORT DUTY ON WOOL.

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1383, 6 January 1873, Page 4

EXPORT DUTY ON WOOL.

A writer in the Hqbart Town Mercury points out the following advantages in favor of taxing wool, instead of imposing an Income Tax, which is spoken of as likely to be brought into force in Taa mania shortly :- -1. Facility of collection, which is a primary element in the solution of any tax. This is amply secured through the medium of the Custom House. 2 Impossibility of evasion — As the wool produced is all brought to the ports of the Colony for shipment to other countries, it must fall under the cognizance of the Custom House, hence no room is afforded for evasion in even the smallest degree. 3. Economy in collects n, whith satisfies t c lead ii g element in tix .}/ a tax ; the existing machinery of f c Custom House being fully adequate to the collection and paying into the Treasury of this export duty without any experue whatever. 4. Equitable nature .»{ the Impost— Contrasted with the ad-i-jmna Cl.-nks of. New South Wales, VictoriM, and South Australia, which pay an assessment on stock, from which Tasmania is fr^ed, a duty on wool can » c viewed only as" an equivalent f or SHC h j exemption, and as a fair contribution to j the general expenses of Government. As ' woolgrowers, unlike agriculturists, can scarcely be reckoned to be employers of labor in relation to the vast areas of land over which their flocks are scattered, so the general revenue receives but little indirect henefit from the consumption of dutiable articles by the comparatively few shepherds ani hutkeepers employed ; and consequently it is in this direction thao laruament may fairly and legitimately

turn for some share of assistance to meet the financial exigencies of the Colony. Should it be urged that the effect of Ihe impost would be to diminish the production of wool (of which, by the way, not the slightest apprehension need be enter tamed), so far from the consequence proving a national caiaJmity, it would in reality be an unmixed good, should it drive the woolgrowers to "agriculture." and the cultivation of some of their fine lands, as the more profitable pursuit, and make them larger employers of labor than they are at present, and thus aid in promoting the material prosperity of the Colony.