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TAXES AND MONOPOLY.

The present mode of collecting taxes, independent of their superfluous quantity, and the positively mischievous purposes to which the larger portion of their amount is applied, tends, in a great degree, to prevent the full development of human invention and skill. Thus, if a man invent a new mode of procuring alcohol, that darling tax-producer of all governments, the first consideration of the ruling powers is — not whether it will cause a saving of labour and material, beneficial to the whole community; but whether it v/iK afford the same, or greater facilities, for the collection of revenue ; and whether it may not also afford some facilities for the evasion of the payment of duty. If the latter, it will assuredly not be permitted. Thus, at present, only large stills are suffered, because it is troublesome to collect the duties from small ones ; and, moreover, persons of large property are less likely to defraud the revenue than poor persons are. Wealthy distillers like this system, because it insures them a monopoly; but the injustice towards the poor is execrable, and the total produce must be much diminished ; just as the East India monopoly imports a small quantity of tea into England, knowing that they can sell it for as large a sum total as if they brought a larger quantity. Ido not deny that it would perhaps be better for the community if distilling were altogether prevented. I merely cite the case, as a proof of the method in which production is prevented. The same thing holds good with regard to the manufacture of soap and candles, leather, and every exciseable article. Commerce is the same ;no poor man can embark in- it, because, independent of the duties, which he has not the means of paying, the charges of all kinds fall disproportionately heavy upon him, and he is driven out of the market. It cannot be doubted that the total amount of trade is thereby lessened ; but this, too, is agreeable to the rulers and their upholders, as it ensures them another monopoly at the expense of the nation. Were the excise and customs utterly abolished, in a very short time foreign nations would also find it their interest to throw open their ports ; and the mutual unshackled exchange of commodities would enlarge to an immense extent the comfort and conveniences of all. To permit this, all taxes must be levied directly upon property ; but as that would expose to each individual the actual amount which he paid, he would probably make a stricter inquiry as to the objects for which it was to be used, and eventually refuse the payment of more than what he considered necessary. This is what a bad government dreads ; and therefore it will not be agreed to, except in case of necessity. — Rights of Morality, by Junius Redivivus.

State of America. — I arrived in Glasgow from my tour in America on the 2d of October last, being absent two years and four months, I thought a great deal of America and should never have come back, if there had been the least chance of doing anything at all. My cousin advised me strongly to hold on and look about for some time, and it is well I did without entering into any rash speculation, as the country is now actually prostrate by commercial difficulties, and God knows when there will be a change. They are a great deal worse off than we are here, and that seems hardly possible : the emigrants are flocking back from America in a dreadful condition — there being no less than from 5,000 to 7,000 left the city of New York on their return home in one week, at four dollars a head. -You no doubt will get a few of them. I notice what you say on that head in your letter to Mr. ** *. I have not got such a notion as I used to have of New Zealand ; I should by far prefer America ; however, if I should get encouragement, I may slip in upon you by and by. On my arrival here after visiting nineteen States, I was taken as a real Yankee. — Extracted from a letter received by a person in Nelson, from his friend in Glasgow. Norway. — Norway is in a state of demicivilization : a century behind Sweden, which is a century behind Denmark, and at least another century behind France and England. Nothing marks this more strongly than the degraded state of the women, who are regarded as convenient appendages rather than as companions to the men. Among the lower orders they perform the hardest work. In the higher order their duty is to minister to their lords. The word lady is not known. When a gentleman introduces his wife, it is with two words, "My wife." This unqualified brevity grates on an English ear ; and the impression of severity thus conveyed is not diminished by observing the laconic speaker throw himself carelessly into a chair, with a pipe in his mouth, while his wife waits on her husband and his company. The Norse ladies claim the exclusive privilege of attendance on strangers. The mistress of a house seldom sits while her guests are eating. She changes their plates, and acts in every respect asr a servant. She speaks when she is spoken to, and does what she is bidden. The custom at first quite deprived me of the pleasure of my meal ; but it appears that the women are as happy as they desire to be : and though an Englishman may wish it otherwise, he must conform unobtrusively to the custom of the country. — Elliott's Journal of Travels in Norway, Sfc. Convicts Transported to England. — At the sitting of the Guernsey Court, Richard Mayne.and James Dashwood, convicted of having stolen some pears, were condemned to one month's solitary confinement, and afterwards to be banished Ito England, for a term of five years. Elizabeth Haward, convicted of the same crime, was condemned to a fortnight's imprisonment, and then to be transported for three years. Frederick Westhrook, found guilty of stealing a pair of boots and a shirt, was condemned to two months' imprisonment, and five years' banishment to England.—-Ji?r**jf paptr. Self-conceit and malice are needed to discover or to imagine faults, and it is much < eastar^gge til ill-natured man, than for a good-natured dtitf^» . be smart and witty.— Sharp's B*say*> ■ ' ' .;w-

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NENZC18430701.2.10

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume II, Issue 69, 1 July 1843, Page 275

Word count
Tapeke kupu
1,070

TAXES AND MONOPOLY. Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume II, Issue 69, 1 July 1843, Page 275

TAXES AND MONOPOLY. Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume II, Issue 69, 1 July 1843, Page 275

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