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Poverty Bay Standard, Volume XI, Issue 1347, 25 August 1883, Page 2

Notwithstanding that the Harbor Board reduced the import tariff on malt liquors to half the amount originally proposed, the public and those more immediately concerned are far from satisfied. When a comparison is instituted with respect to other merchandise the inequality of the impost stands out in bold relief as still being out of all proportion. The heaviest impost on any other description of merchandise is 2s 6d per ton, as in the case of tallow, which is worth some £3O to £lO per ton. Why then should they impose |d per gallon, equal to Is (id per ton, on malt liquors when that commodity is not worth more than £l5 or £lO per ton. We feel certain that the question has not been fully considered by most of our disinterested members or else they would most assuredly hasten to correct what cannot fail to be looked upon as a most unfair and unequal charge. It is clearly not the duty of the Board to impose anything in the shape of duties, that being

a matter solely for the consideration of the government. We hear from reliable authority that it is the in-

tention of some gentlemen mainly interested in this question failing to obtain satisfaction from our Boards to communicate with Government on chia matter. Should this be done we have little doubt as to the result. Why beer should be made more of a special feature than wines and spirits—which are included in general merchandise at Is 6d per ton—we are at a loss to know.