The Manawatu Standard (PUBLISHED DAILY.) The Oldest Daily Newspaper on the West Coast. FRIDAY JUNE 26, 1885. THE NEW TARIFF.

Manawatu Standard, Volume X, Issue 24, 26 June 1885, Page 2

Manawatu Standard (PUBLISHED DAILY.) The Oldest Daily Newspaper on the West Coast. FRIDAY JUNE 26, 1885. THE NEW TARIFF.

It would seem that the new tariff' is gaining favour m no quarter. Even those whose interests were chiefly "sought ; to be protected have sa d m so many words that they wish or require no such protection. The tone of the Press throughout the Colony is universally hostile. The Government organ, m Wellington, the Ei:e:-i,nj Post, remarks that when we come to enquire into the reasons for which most of these new duties are imposed, we find : ample proof that they are not so much for the revenue purposes as to put increased profits, at the expense of the consumers, into the pockets of a few manufacturers who are al* ready doing well and ahle to quite hold their own against importers That this is the case m the soft goods tiade is pretty well shown hy a letter m another column from Mr KrucALDiß. The. new duty on these goods; simply means i ncrdased-j profits to the &T6&giel and other woollen manufacturers. The .farmers are to pay £in i exti'a' shilling' aiewt. for barbed wire fencing m order \o force them to buy from the Oamaru and Timaru manufacturers, who are permitted to import their materials free. The public are to pay 2s a ton on coal for the benefit of the shareholders m the various c al companies ; and so the whole thing is arranged. The general public interest is m almost every instance deliberately sacrificed to benefit small private and individual interests — the many are taxed for the benefit of the few, and the burden is placed upon the shoulders of those least able to bear it. If the representatives of the people are faithful to the trust reposed m them they will at all hazards, reject the proposals of the Government as. embodied m the new tariff*. It is all very well for Major Atkinson, who is himself a protectionist, to object that raising the question of free trade against protection will disturb 1 existing patty lines. There is something here at stake far superior to any considerat'ons of party, something which vitally affocts the interests, the health and happiness of the great mass of the people of the colony. The increase m the cost of living, which must result from the adoption of such a tariff as the one proposed, is to the great majority of the inhabitants of New Zealand afar more important and interesting question than any as to which party shall be m and which out. Party interests must not be allowed to stand m the way of vigorous resistance to the imposition of such taxes as arc now proposed to be inflicted on the industrial Ife of the colony, and which will practically decrease wages by reducing the purchasin.; power of money m respect to the necessaries of life. 1 The Auckland Herald says of the financial; proposals that the tendency, will be to increase considerably the ccis't' of living. Especially will the increased, cluty on tea be felt as a harclsfijpiby, working classes. It " was. in,', consideration of them that the charge of sixpence a pound was reduced to fourpence during the time Sir Geokc;k Grey's Ministry, of which the present Premier was a member. It cannot fail to appear to the working classes a thing unaccountable that a Cab-net with a Radical chief at its head should have attempted to impose so heavy burden on a staple 1 article of diet. The increased taxation must be felt as a serious incubus on the country, whose indebtedness is yearly becoming greater through the authorising of fresh loans. It is quite clear that this state of things cannot go on much longer, and the country's only chance of having its taxation diminished depends on putting an end to our borrowing. According to present appearances, however, there does not seem to be much prospect of this being done. The •uckland/SVarsays : — The more the tariff is examined the less it is liked, although many of the alterations are triflingly insignificient other are prohibitively protective, and evidently submitted with a view to establish dangerous monopolies m industries that are already established. This is the most obnoxious development of ultra-protection, and confirms the assertion of free-traders that so soon as industries developed by tariff aids gather strength they use it to abuse their privilege by making articles which they 'manufacture still dearer toconsuirieys, and by establishing for |j themselves i a monopoly;: at- extravagant 1 , prices. The boot and shoe industry; fox example,is already flourishing, and' is certainly not. entitled t<i any further help than it has hitherto received from the tariff. What, then, is the. object of the preposterously heavy : additions to the duties on boots and: shoes, unless to make these indispensible articles of clothing dearer than they are to the masses of the

people. The duty oF 20 per cent, on blankets, while other classes of soft goods are admitted at 17. V per cent., is clearly meant as a bonus to some company which is now manufacturing blankets. These duties will add little or nothing to the revenue, but they will rob the people insidiously of a very large sum of money every year p lid m excessive profits to ,a few persons engaged m the manufacture. The general clause .imposing a duty of 10 per cenjt. o.n all unspecified articles is a clumsy and dangerous provision. Importers; will be astounded from time to time by the discovery that goods which have hitherto been exempt from taxation are liable to a ruinous (Juty leyied . surreptitiously . Above all' things a tax ought to be clear and explicit. The articles taxable shoujd be plainly set out and all the rest go free. To impose a tax of 10 per cent, m a general slap dash sort of way without specifying the articles upon which, the taxis levied may be a convenient expedient for a Treasurer who cares for noting but to swell the revenue, but it is an unpardonable violation of sound economic and commercial principles. We have not met with a single newspaper of any standing or influence which has pronounced m favour of the new tariff. So general and unmjstakeable has been the opposition that the Colonial Treasurer has considered it expedient to let it be known that the proposals are not of a " cast iron " character. Yielding to the pressure brought to bear from friends as well as foes, it is not improbable that the Customs Duties will 'be ultimately arranged m a less objectionable form.