THE TAX ON BEER.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5442, 5 September 1878, Page 2

THE TAX ON BEER.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE NEW ZEALAND TIMES. Sir, —In last evening’s issue of the Post I notice a letter in answer to mine in the New Zealand Times of the 2nd instant, in which the writer, under the nom deplume of “ Good English Beer,” tries to justify the beer tax in New Zealand, collected by means of an inland excise. He says that inland excise is in force in Canada, and speaks of that colony as being important and flourishing. Having lived and carried on a malting business there for many years, I am in a position to speak of the effects of that inland excise. My experience was that had it not been for the restrictions put upon the malting industry there through this inland excise, it would have been a much more flourishing colony than it now is. Canada grows much finer barley than the United States, and even with their protective duties could ship enormous quantities of malt to supply American brewers, were it not for the Canadian inland excise, which is so harassing and inquisitorial as practically to put a stop to the industry. Premises formerly very valuable are now rendered almost worthless. -Why, sir, I left Canada on account of this inland excise, and no one has had the hardihood to carry on the malthouse I formerly occupied, although it was situated in the best barleygrowing district; and this is six years since. If the Government must put on taxes for revenue purposes, let them make them as fait for one as the other. If, howeve-, they in their wisdom see fit to make an example of brewers, why should they not put the tax in the form of a license, which will answer every purpose of the objectionable Beer Bill ?

’lt will not even cost the Government the £SOO mentioned by the Colonial Treasurer to collect; it will not throw all the burden of collection on the brewer; it will not bo harassing or inquisitorial; and last, but not least, it will not be the commencement- of inland excise in New Zealand, which I contend, sir, is a most ruinous system of taxation to adopt in any new colony.—l am, &c., Anti-Excise.