A WOOL TAX.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 76, 6 August 1873, Page 3

A WOOL TAX.

A writer in the Hobart Town Mercury points out the following advantages in favor of taxing wool, instead of imposing an income tax, which is spoken of as likely to be brought into force in Tasmania shortly : —l. Facility of collection, which is a primary element in the solution of any tax. This is amply secured through the medium of the Custom-house. 2. Impossibility of evasion.—As the wool produced is all brought to the ports of the colony for shipment to other countries, it must fall under the cognizance of the Custom-

house, hence no room is afforded for evasion in even the smallest degree 3. Economy in collection, which satisfies aa >ther leading element in fixing a tax ; the existing machinery of the Customhouse being fully adequate to the collection and paying into the treasury of this export duty without any expense whatever, Equitable nature of the import. — Contrasted with the adjoining Colonies of New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia, which pay an assessment on stock, from which Tasmania is freed) a duty on wool can be viewed only as an equivalent for such exemption, and as a fair contribution to the general expense of Government. As wool growers, unlike agriculturists, can scarcely be reckoned to be employers of labor in relation to the vast areas of land over which their flocks are scattered, so the general revenue receives but little indirect benefit from the consumption of dutyable articles by the comparatively few shepherds and hutkeepers employed ; and consequently it is in this direction that Parliament may fairly and legitimately turn for some share of assistance to meet the financial exigencies of the colony. Should it be urged that the effect of the impost would be to diminish the production of wool (of which by the way not the slightest apprehension need be entertained), so far from the consequence proving a national calamity, it would in reality be an unmixed good, should it drive the wool growers to “ agriculture,” and the cultivation of some of their fine lands, as the more profitable pursuit, and make them larger employers of labor than they are at present, and thus aid in promoting the material prosperity of the colony.