THE “POOR MAN'S” BEER.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5427, 19 August 1878, Page 3

THE “POOR MAN'S” BEER.

(From the Press , August 16.) The proposition of the Government to impose a tax on colonial beer is open, on several grounds, to grave objection. If introduces into the colony the excise duties which, on the whole, it is undesirable to initiate here. The system is necessarily more or less of an inquisitorial character, and, if extended to a few other branches of local production, would be exceedingly offensive. Moreover the taxes under notice would bo very expensive to collect, and they offer besides great temptation to fraud. As far as the tax on beer is concerned, we think it is objectionable, not only on the general grounds we have stated, but also because it is not required to meet any financial exigency. In a former article we pointed out that the Government have set about tinkering with the tariff in a manner which will afford no real relief to those they profess to serve. The beer tax will come out of tho pocket of one of two parties—the brewer or the consumer. If the brewer has to pay it, he loses per cent, on his gross production, which will make a very considerable difference in his annual profit. Brewing, it must he remembered, is an industry employing many workmen, and tho material used is a colonial product. The tax is therefore directly levied upon one of the few industries which flourish in our midst. But the brewer will no doubt charge the publican a higher price for his beer, and so repay himself. In that case the general public will suffer, for in the majority of cases the retailer will take very good care to recoup himself the full amount of the extra tax. Nor can the impost bo regarded as in any way a step in the direction of the readjustment of taxation in the sense professed to be aimed at by the Government. Beer, to a large number of the people of the colony, is as much a necessary of life as tea and sugar. Those who will pay the £30,000 estimated to be received from the tax will be principally those for whom the present Government profess to be so solicitous. Colonial beer is the drink not of the “ weathy and privileged" dosses, but of the mass of the population. In proposing to tax it, the Ministry are seeking to take £30,000 principally out of the pockets of the “ working men," while the remission of the duty on tea and sugar will benefit not only the poor but the rich. The conclusion we have come to, therefore, is that the beer tax is a mistake, not only because it belongs to a class of duties which necessitate inquisitorial inspection, but also because it will come out of the pockets of those who can least afford to pay additional taxation.