The Nelson Evening Mail. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 1879.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIV, Issue 265, 19 November 1879, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 1879.

Prepared though the colony was, by the brief exposition of the state of its finances laid before the House by Major Atkinson shortly after the accession to office of the Hall Ministry ast month, to find that the condition of its affairs was anything but satisfactory, it is scarcely too much to say hat the financial statement, which was published yesterday, burst like a thunder clap upou the public and, to make use of a conventional phrase, fairly took men's breath away. There is so much contained in those few columns, and the facts stated, and changes proposed, are so startling, and of such vast importance, that an opinion is not to be hurriedly pronounced upon the merits or demerits of the Colonial Treasurer's speech. We are, however, brought face to face with these broad facts, from which there is no escaping. These are— That the five million loan, authorised laßt session, but not yet raised has been anticipated by the late Ministry to the extent of £3,300,000 ; that in the matter of ordinary revenue there is a deficit of £950,000 to be provided for ; and that it is proposed to impose additional taxation to the tune of £618,700. Heedless of the future, we have been pursuing the even tenor of our way until we have reached the full length of our tether, and upon Major Atkinson has fallen the extremely disagreeable duty of coming before the public aud informing them that in addition to the burdeua they have already been bearing it has become absolutely necessary to add another, which, if equally divided, would I amount to about siss for {each individual of { the population. Not only iv Nelson, but in \ other parts, has the announcement of Monday night caused consternatiou and diversity of opinion, aud the effect produced iv Wellington is ably described by a well informed correspondent, who is in a position to ascertain the views of the different classes of the community, and who telegraphed to us last night as follows: — Public opinion is somewhat divided, or r tuber is uncertain, as to the merits of the new tariff, and a couple sf days will be required before tho cloudy ideas of the public harden inte consistency. The nltra-Greyites, taking «b«r go* from their leader, Sir George, j

still see the poor man made a martyr of, *nd assert that this tariff will make him carry the greater portion of the burden of taxatiou Drapers and general merchandise men, however, complain bitterly, but console themsehres, nevertheless, with the fact that the consumer pays, as drapery will form the greater portion of the ad valorem duties. Thy opiuion of soft goodsmen is worthy of attention, and they allege that the tax will press most heavily upon the purchasers of cheap weariug apparel, and that it will be comparatively light tipoh those who clothe themselves in purple and fine linen, but, on the other hand, the runholders are not satisfied. The noble " Johnny Martin " vows tnat the property tax will cost hirii about £1000 yearly, but to this the objection is raised that the tax will impede business, and prevent building improvements and transactions in real estate. Then conies the opinion of au intelligent class, acquainted with bnsiness, yet not likely to be biassed, having no particular interest ia any branch of trade, and they say that they consider the tariff a very fair one under the circumstances, though heavier than they e*p?cted. They seek comfort, however, iii the fact that when the English bondholder sees wiih what readiness the people of New Zealand tax themselves when the times come for it, nothing is more calculated to raise our credit ia the London market, and further, that, should this tariff be accepted aud cheerfully borne by the people, and realise the expectations of the Colouial Treasurer, the credit of New Zealand will be for ever established at home, and the next loan will be floated more advantageously than the last. The timber importers do not like the imposition at all, an I say that we shall lose all our forests shortlj-, and the country will be materially injured in consequence. One firm here will lose over £1,000 on two cargoes of American timber, which they have afloat. In order that our readers uaay be able to compare the new with the lately existing tariff, we give below the proposed duties, followed, in italics, by those for which they are to be substituted: — Almonds, in the shell, and nuts of all kinds, except cocoanuts, 2d per lb— One penny Chaff, ins per ton — Free Corks, bottling, 15s per cwt, ad valorem-Free Fruits, dried, 2<i per lb— One penny Fruits, fresh, other than oranges, lemons, bananas, and pine apples, 15s per cent, ad valorem — ; Glass, crown sheet and cotumon window, 2s per 100 feet superficial— One shilling Grain and pulse of every kiud not. otherwise enumerated, 9d per lGolbs--Free Grain, when ground or in any way manufactured, Is per lOOlbs— Free Malt, 2s per bushel — Eighteen pence Peas, split, la per cwt— Free Hops, 6d per lb — Free Iron fencing, wire staples, and standards, £2 per ton — Ticenty shillings Iron, galvanised, corrugated, sheets, guttering, ridging, and spouting, washers, screws, nails, and wire nettiog, 40a per ton — Twenty shillings Iron tanks, 6s each— Free Matches of all kinds, 25 per cent, ad valorem — Ten per cent Milk, preserved, 15 per cent, ad valoremFree Nails, 3s per cwt — One shilling \ Perfumery and toilet preparaiions, not otherwise eunmerated, 25 percent ad valorem — Ten per cent \ Proprietary medicines, commonly called patent medicines, or any medicine or preparation of which the receipt is kept secret, recoiianiended by advertisement, bills, or label for the relief of any disorder or ailment, 25 per ceut ad valorem — Ten per cent Timber, s;iwn, rough, 2s per 100 feet super, dressed, 49 per 100 feet super— Free Shingles and laths, 2s per thousand — Free Palings, 2s per hundred — Free Posti, Bs— Free Rails, 43— Free Salt, 20« per ton— Free Spirits, or strong waters not being sweetened or mixed with any article so that the degree of strength thereof cannot be ascertained by Sykes's hydrometer, for every gallon of strength of proof by such hydrometer, and so in proportion for any greater or less strength than the strength of proof, and for any greater cr less quantity than a gallon, 14s per proof gallon — Twelve shillings Spirits, other spirits being sweetened or mixed so that degree of strength cannot be ascertained an aforesaid, 14s per gallon — Twelve shillings Spirits, liquors, and cordials, 14s per gallon — Twelve shillings Perfumed spirits aud cologne water, 11s per gallon— Twelve shillings Stearine, Id per lb — Free Tobacco, 3s 6d per lb—Half-a-crown Cigars and cigarettes, 6s per lb— Five shillings Wine, other than sparkling and Australian, 5s per gallon— Four shillings AH articles not otherwise enumerated which are now chargeable with duty at 10 per cent ad valorem, 15 per cent ad valorem — Ten per cent This last item includes all such articles of common use as the following : — Brushware, carpets, carriages, carts, drays, and waggons, chinaware, clocks and watches, clothing, confectionery, cutlery, drapery, druga of all kinds, earthenware, engravings, prints, &c, furniture, glassware, hardware, harness, hats, faolloware, jewellery, musical instruments, oil in bottle, paper, paperbangiuga, pipes plated ware, portmanteaux, saddlery, iron safes, fancy soaps, stationery, tinware, toys and fancy goods, twine, umbrellas, weighing machines, whips and walking sticks, zinc manufactures &c. It may not be generally kaown that the ten per cent ad val rent duty chargeable on all goods on which it was placed did not represent the actual amount paid, as ten per cent was added to the invoice price and the duty charged on the original value with that amount in addition. Thus supposing the invoice to be for £100 worth of goods, there was first added to that £10, and then ten per cent was charged on the total, making the actual duty £11 instead of £10. If this principal is still adhered to, fifteen per cent ai valorem will really mean 16£ per cent.