ALTERATIONS OF TAXATION.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5437, 30 August 1878, Page 2

ALTERATIONS OF TAXATION.

TO THE EDITOII ON TUE NEW ZEALAND TIMES. Slli, —An answer to my letter which appeared in your issue of Monday, is, I assume, put forward in the leader of the New Zealander, of to-day’s date, defending the Government, which states they cannot be expected to please everyone, advises the Colonial Treasurer to turn a deaf ear to the deputations, aud push his ideas into effect on the country whether the country likes them or not, because he has enunciated them, whether they are right or whether they are wrong. This, sir, is neither a liberal nor enlightened policy, and savors more of autocracy. They refer to minor details, and it is perhaps a matter of opinion which is minor or which major, and I maintain that the imposition of a direct tax on local manufactures is far from a minor detail in the system of taxation, but is a material aud important part, the serious effect of which on the industries of the country will bo felt in time to come. If the Colonial Treasurer falls between two stools, or is endangered by Scylhv on tbe one hand aud Charybdis on the other, it is because ho has steered there; ho

might have kept clear by avoiding both. Where was the necessity, and where are the benefits to be derived from altering the Customs tariff and enforcing an inland excise revenue ? It cannot be that there is more money derived from the one than the other, for such, is not the case. Where was the agitation and cry against the tea and sugar tax to induce him to lower it, where are the petitions and meetings of the working men crying out that they were heavily oppressed thereby ? No ! it was a Ministerial cry, and the only excitement that was on this subject was by the Premier endeavoring to gain popularity with claptrap of “ a free breakfast-table. Where was the necessity to reduce the Australian wines consumed by the rich and place a duty on the poor man’s beer. Why is fencing wire, mostly used by the squatter, to be admitted free, and tinkering in the boot and shoe line, making gentlemen’s and ladies’ boots pay the same as bluchers and watertights per pair, the former costing SO to 100 per cent, more than the latter? The cause for the'alteration in the tariff is the poor cause they mention, and in which Ministers will have something to say for themselves; but whatever they may say, nothing can justify the remark that because they have put forward a policy of taxation part of which is acceptable and the remainder objectionable, the objectionable must be forced upon the people of the country when only approved by the minority. The good sense of the Treasurer will, I hope, induce him to take this view, and if any part of his Budget is found distasteful to the House and the country he will withdraw it and adopt the philosophy of “leaving well alone.” —I am, &c., Manufacturer. Wellington, August 28.