THE NEW TARIFF.

Lyttelton Times, Volume VI, Issue 404, 17 September 1856, Page 7

THE NEW TARIFF.

(From the " Wellington Independent."

Certainly the passing of the Customs Duties Bill was effected by a clever -coup d'etat. Determined to ensure the utmost secresy, "the measure Avas prepared by the Ministry out of business hours, placed in the hands of the printers by one of themselves who tosk care to keep the compositors under lock and key ; even the undersecretary was ignorant of their intentions until he sent for the proof shortly after the Cu«tom House had closed for the day. By such means as these the Ministry succeeded in taking the Pifblic of Auckland as much by. surprise on the morning of the sth of August, as were our own community on the arrival of ahe1 steamer last Saturday evening. We must confess the whole matter to have been cleverly done, and considering that all the provinces have been tarred with the same brush, we have no ground for grumbling on the score that the Auckland merchants were able to take an advantage Avhich co. u,d not be shared in by ourselves. The measu re *s admitted to be merely an experimental one, and Avas brought fonvard mainly in fulfilment of the promise which his Excellency had frequently given l ast summer while visiting the various provinces. Wliatever information can be collected during the recess» is to be thoroughly digested and embodied i" * well considered scheme to be submitted early next session, with the view to its receiving such a ventilation a* shall ensure its equity and therefore its permanency. So at least the promise runs, but remembering how explicitly the ministry announced, at the commencement of sitting, that no legislation on this subject was intended until next year, we have r some doubt as to whether the old proverb may not asrain be verified by the ministerial promise a second time turning out to be a species of political pie-crust, made only to be broken. The reyision of the old tariff under any circumstances Avould be attended with.many difficulties, and under none, probably, could a new one be settled entirely free from objections, but it seems to us that the Customs Duties Act, now in operation, will be found frought with the greatest inconvenience and injustice. The real merits <r demerits can only full}' appear as the act comes practically into operation, but the hardship with which it will press upon the working portion of the community is apparent at the merest glance. Things done in a hurry are seldom d ne well, and if ihe bill could have been as little mote leisurely considered, some of its many glaring defects might have been rectified; as it was, the principal or at any rate one of the main causes of consternation among some of the members seems to have been the enormous duty which would fall upon hats, and no doubt some historical artist will one day immortalise the session by painting companion pictures, the one representing " the inspection of the first livery suits," and the other, "the members measuring their broad-brimmers." Such petty anomalies as admitting casks free, while shooks are charged two pence the cubic foot, are of too trivial a character to demand more than a passing remark, but it serves to indicate what we mean by the want of leisurely consideration. The few extra articles admitted free are all, more or less, connected with the advancement of the colony and such as will everywhere meet with appproval. The increased duties on spirits and wines make those, j who choose to indu'ge in such luxuries, pay for them, and the trifling addition of two pence par gallon on bulk beer, will not aifect its price to tho general consumer. The natives have not been overlooked, as the increase on tobacco will fall largely on them. So far, perhaps, so good; though we should like to see the next importation of posts and rails undergoing the nieasurenienton which they arc to be charged two pence the cubic foot. It is to

divisions 12 and 13 of section 2, that we entertain the strongest objection, as relieving the class who are supposed to be affluent, and placing oppressive duties on the poorer portion of the community. Cases of jewellery and plated ware, and other similar articles which before contributed a revenue prorortionately to their value, will now pay only as much as cases of a similar size filled with clodhoppers watertights. Silks which used to pay sixpence a yard will p^iy the same as the print for the Maori woman's roundabout, which used to be charged at a half-penny. The bale cf broadcloth for* Mr. Stafford's coats, formerly paying fifteen pence a-yard, will be admitted for just as much as a bale of the fustian worn by his hedger and ditchei, which heretofore was entered at a penny. Sail cloth and sails, which our boatmen were wont to get free, will now pay the same as a similar bulk of the finest cambrics and lawns. The ormolu clock which decorates , the gentleman's drawing room will contribute about half as*mucb as the American wooden one which is so necessary to the man whose wages suffer if he happen to be behind hand. A package of musical instruments or one of teakettles, another of perfumery, a fourth of tar, no matter how incongruous, calculate the cubic feet and charge the shillings • Really the matter becomes very serious to the man who is dependent on the five or six shillings his daily labour procures for him. A gross piece of class legislation, a law more unblushingdy favouring the rich at the expense of the poor, this colony has never witnessed; the only extra duty worth mentioning, to be paid exclusively by the former is that placed on wini*, and this is more than counter-balanced by that on spirits, the large quantity ol which is consumed by the latter. One other effect of the hasty legislation now under consideration is likely to cause much trouble loss and confusion, both to the authorities an! the merchants. The act came into force throughout the Colony on the sth of August, and all the duties which have been paid since then under the old tariff are subject to revision. If, for instance, a merchant had recently paid Iris t£n per cent, on any of the kinds of machinery now exempted, he can legally demand a return pf the duty so paid ; other goods lately cleared, either at fixed or ad valorem duties have been so in contradiction to the specific clauses which enforce the new tariff, "from and after the sth day of August;" and, .on the other hand, th». Collector is also clearly bound to charge the extra duties upon all recent entries. The position in which the merchants and trader s throughout the five southern provinces are placed, is a very unpleasant one, aud bearing in mind that Avhen returns Avere moved for to show whether or not advantage had been taken, prior to the passing of the a-ct, of any information that might have oozed out, the ministry expressly declared their intention to prosecute for the increased duties if such were, found to be the case ; "there can be no question as to the vexation and inconvenience to which, the whole mercantile community are liable to be subjected.