THE BEER TAX.
TO THE EDITOR OP THE NEW ZEALAND TIMES. Sib, —Permit me to say a few words about the beer tax.
The Colonial Treasurer said in his speech last night that the tax will fall on the censumer, and so the brewers should be well satisfied. The fact is, that this statement is only correct in theory, in practice it cannot-be carried out, as the publican has no means of raising the price per glass, and the Colonial Treasurer’s suggestion that the size of the glass should be reduced cannot be carried into force, as the largest consumption is in halfpint measures, which mnst be stamped. The tax, therefore, must tall on the brewers and publicans, or either of them. If it falls ou the brewer, it means taking away 40 per cent, of his profits, and is a class tax. If on the publican, it would be also a class tax. There is a popular belief la New Zealand that the brewing industry is a wonderfully profitably one. I think the reverse is the case, as it is a well known fact that more failures have occurred among the brewers in proportion to their number than in any other trade in New Zealand. With large investment of capital some few have got fairly on their legs after years of heavy losses, and now the Colonial Treasurer proposes to cat those legs from under them. No doubt the diminution in tho consumption of English beer is duo to the exertions and energy of the New Zealand brewers, for which they should rather boencouraged than crippled. The Colonial Treasurer is unfair in saying that the brewers wanted woollen factories, &c., to be taxed instead of themselves. What they asked tho Colonial Treasurer was: Why should tho brewing industry be the only one taxed ? Should not woollen factories, &c., be placed on the same footing, and the Colonial Treasurer said : No doubt all industries would be taxed when once fairly on their legs. In, fact, the Colonial Treasurer’s argument against the brewing industry was studiously unfair, as he tried to pick to pieces only a few of the reasons adduced in objection to the tax, ignoring in toto the majority of them, which I think ho will find hard to controvert. If on the grounds of revenue the brewing industry must be taxed, surely the Colonial Treasurer can devise some, more simple and less objectionable way than that proposed ia the Beer Duty Act, which is most arbitrary and inquisitorial. It cripples trade, drives respectable men out of the industry, and ia
most obnoxious in .every way. If brewers, must bo taxed why should it not be in the shape of a license ? Do not Ist us commence inland excise, that most objectionable of all' modes of taxation. No other English colony baa ever taxed this industry, and it will be a bad day for Now Zealand when local industries are interfered with.—l am, &c., Anti-Excise. Wellington, 31st August.
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New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5439, 2 September 1878, Page 2
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499THE BEER TAX. New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5439, 2 September 1878, Page 2
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