THE BREWERS AND THE BEER TAX.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XV, Issue 158, 3 July 1880, Page 2

THE BREWERS AND THE BEER TAX.

DEi? UTAMON ; TO ; THE Gt OYEBITMENT. vi!:. '^Evening Post, June 26.] -'' ; A (deputation, representing tbe brewing interest in various parts df the colony, waited 'upqnshib;Polonidl Treasury this morning 'to 'urge their objections to the'" Beer Tax*. .^The 1 following br& wera were present 'r-^Messrs.i^a^shali (Dunedin) , ' Lintotfc (Oamaru), LeeXGhristchurch); HaWey* and Lingiird (Wanganui), Duigan; (PalmerstbW); M'Ciirthy arid Staples f (Wellington). : They were introduced by Mr. E. 0. J. SttfveneyM. H,;^ The following printed objection* were pfyce'd. before' ;Major . Atkinsop •—•That in a; yoiii-g colony it is' unwise -'to elof* - thiß springs of local industry ;by taxation/ ThaHhe tax'now levied on colonial beer is j a most serious burden upon the • brewing trade of the'/coloriy. That it has alreadjr lessened the. Stitpn't of- the diiferisnt'brewettißs'th'rbughdut the colony fully 25 ii p r 6r c6nt; tad will, if made law, i: ctase'h large number oif peWons to be throw*. Out of employment, at a time when ffie fanksbf the^uuempteyed are abnormally large. » That the materials chiefly;' used in' bffcwing— viz., malt and 1 hops-^-are almost entirely the products 1 ofthe soil of the" colony, arid largely assist in the settlement of small farmers on its f Wastd landsi /'That tay tftx on a manufactured article must have a reflex action,and, in part at least, fall back on the producers of the raw materials used in- its > production. < That it' is unwise to; introduce ia _ young colony the highly objectionable principle of . < Excise^ which' has, wherever in forces had the effect of 'preventing any imJ.royement in manufacture, and greatly essening production. v That Owing to climatic influences, the manufacture of beer is beset with so great risk and loss as to render the margin, of profit to the brewer so small that any deductions therefrom for . revenue -.purposes -, must have a mischievous effect, and cripple an industry: in which large sums of money are, invested, ;and which., gives employment to a yery large number of people.. That beer is an important article of food with the working classes, and, as such, should be exempted as much as possible from taxation, and its consumption encouraged in lieu of ardent spirits. That brewers' plant and premises are most costly and extensive, and are already heavily taxed for both general and local revenue purposes. That it is manifestly unfair to tax a manufactured: article, many of the constituent parts of which have already paid customs duties. That the tax will .have the effect of crushing the small brewers and creating a monopoly for the sole benefit of a: few, large capitalists. That the tax is retrospective, and bears heavily upon brewers, who have large B.ocks on hand, and contracts to fulfil. That tho tax would encourage private brewing in order to escape the duty, and would offer inducements to use articles. in the. manufacture, of a, cheap but highly injurious nature to the consumers. That, in the event of the tax becoming law, the j brewers be treated the same as the distillers were, and be allowed twelve . months to clear their stocks, and then be paid the same scale of; compensation for loss of vested interests. The deputation generally pointed out that the tax would send many of them into the Insolvency Court' and out of the market altogether. The Hon. Major Atkinson intimated that before he could consider what might be done he would like to see some statement of figures and facts regarding the brewing trade, as it would not answer the Government to cripple any: industry. He had always been opposed to the tax, but the necessity of the colony demanded increased, taxation. He, however, would be better able to consider the, matter when he saw figures regarding the cost of manufacture, quantity of beer brewed, and the prices ob.jnned. The deputation then withdrew.