ENGLISH WORKING MEN AND THE TOBACCO DUTY.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5390, 6 July 1878, Page 2 (Supplement)

ENGLISH WORKING MEN AND THE TOBACCO DUTY.

Consequent upon the Budget announcements, most tobacconists have put notices in their windows which “respectfully inform” customers that the price of tobacco lias gone up a half-penny an ounce. It is true, the City Press says, that the extra duty is only a farthing an ounce, but the other farthiug gees to the dealers, and it would have been difficult to put a farthing an ounce on, because half-ounce customers have had to be considered, aud we have had no half-farthings tor the last generation. As to “screws" they will be screwier than ever. After all, there are some articles which would have* home extra taxation worse than tobacco, aud some would have borne it better—spirits, for instance; but those who call up spirits from the vastv deep of vats constitute a power which the Government might well hesitate to put itself' in antagonism with. It the impost oa tobacco leads to a little diminution in the use of the weed which is so objectionable to many people, aud with .which our> streets aud railway carriages aud public places generally are rendered obnoxious to non-smokers, the result of the Chancellor of the Exchequer's little Bill will not be wholly evil. We say this without any prejudice whatever against tobacco, when it can bo used in moderation and without offence. Turning to that very pseful‘publication, the Financial Reform Almanac/.-, wo find that tobacco and snuff brought £7,81)1,113 into the national exchequer last year, against £7,835,209 in the previous year; and tho total income from that source during the past ten years was £70,530.779. If tho working man is touched through his pipe, how much more is tho class just above by tho extra twopence of Income Tax !