The Lyttelton Times.

Lyttelton Times, Volume IX, Issue 561, 20 March 1858, Page 4

The Lyttelton Times.

Saturday, March 20th. The Tariff question is not one containing" much debateable ground. To raise a revenue, and to interfere with trader-as-little as possible, are the two objects to be obtained by any Customs Dutie-i Act; and the excellence of any such enactment must be judged by its results as tested by these two principles. Let us see then how the present New Zealand tariff answers these ends, and, if failing, how it should be modified or altered to attain them.

By the present system and . scale of duties a larger gross revenue has without doubt been raised than would have been under that which preceded it; and conse-

quently the first object has been attained But to create difficulties in the collection of the revenue, and to throw obstructions in the way of importing certain classes of merchandise while other goods of less necessity are absolved from contribution is an interference with trade alleged almost universally against the tariff which has now been in existence for more than eighteen months. The Customs Duties Act ot 1856^-aises the greater portion of its revenue from fixed duties upon a few largely used articles; but in undertaking to tax a host.of minor ones it expends the strength ot its collecting staff with small results, and introduces evident unfairness mto its operation. While the natural ceneral law stands, that of articles of equal value the smallest in size is the greatest rarity and the greatest luxury, an enactment which demands the heaviest toll from the largest package might be entitled An Act to discourage the Importation ot Useful Merchandise,' or, ' An Act to avoid receiving Revenue from Luxuries.' Either an improved system or an amended scale of duties is urgently required.

The Chamber of Commerce in tfig* neighbouring port of Wellington has carefully considered the question and recommends a tariff very similar to one now in operation in the colony of Victoria. The arguments in its favour are cogent: that it is simple in the extreme; that it works well in Victoria; and that equalization of Customs Duties throughout the colonies is desirable; while no objections on mercantile grounds seem tenable. One thing only is wanting, and that is the very basis of all Customs enactments under free trade principles : that a sufficient revenue shall be raised thereby. The Wellington Chamber publishes "carefully prepared tables to show the working of their theory, one of which exhibits the amount of revenue that would have resulted from the adoption of the Victorian tariff for the year ended September 30, 1857, as compared with the amount actually received. Wellington would have been a loser of about 8 per cent by the change; and therefore an amendment is proposed, increasing the Victorian rate of duty upon one or two articles, and thus rendering the deficiency hardly perceptible. Before assenting to the change we must consider this essential point carefully. Let us, then, test the operations of a late period in our own province in the same manner, and mark the result; for if the basis proposed is sound the test will have a similar result wherever applied.

The following is a statement of the duties received on all goods brought into consumption in Canterbury frbm July 1 to Dec. 81, 1857, compared with the duties which would have been receivable on the same goods .if charged at the Victorian rates, together with the increase proposed by the Wellington. Chamber of Commerce:—

The deficiency would have been £1331 ss. 6d. Thus we find a loss exhibited of rather more than 15 per cent., in the face of which we cannot give unqualified support to the Wellington Memorial. Can no other course be taken? Will an enlargement of the list of articles charged at fixed rates render the present system more fair? It would at any rate be a clumsy remedy, and, if carried out, would eliminate the measurement system

altogether. Is there any reason why all such evident luxuries us silks, laces, and jewellery should not be taxed ? It seems to us that little practical complexity would be added to the Victorian tariff if such articles as these paid duty. If there be any reason in the principle that luxuries should be taxed, the class of goods indicated above should take a place at least alongside of teas, coffees, and sugars. The merchants of this town, it is intimated, are about to discuss the tariff question with a view to legislation in the approaching- Session of the General Assembly. Should the suggestions we have thrown together here be founded on truth we trust they may not be unserviceable in the debate which will doubtless precede a mature expression of opinion.

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