THE BEER TAX.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2428, 29 December 1880, Page 4

THE BEER TAX.

The interests of Nelson brewers and Nelson beer-drinkers, are not likely to be neglected at the hands of Mr Alfred Harley, a candidate for the vacant seat for the Nelson suburbs in the House of .Representatives, if he gets elected. In the “ Nelson Mail’s ” report of his address to the electors on Saturdayl appears the following :—“ Now, here’s another point which is a sore one to many. 1 have no connection of any kind with any brewery, but I do feel the beer tax very much indeed ; I like my beer as well as any of yon. [A Voice—So you do, Mr Harley ; so you do.] In the good old days, before they went in for tea and such-like, Queen Elizabeth used to have her tankard of beer brought in at every meal. And well-brewed beer is good honest stuff to drink. There’s not a bit of harm in it. Pox talks about it being poison, but I have known men of seventy and eighty years of age who had drunk plenty of beer every day of their lives, and sometimes rather too much, and yet were as hale and hearty as younger men. Beer is the only luxury a working man has, and its a shame to deny it to him (cheers), and if I get in the House, I’ll go dead against the beer tax. The brewers spend a lot of money in the place and cause a lot to be spent, and they shouldn’t be made to pay this tax. In fact they don’t pay it, but its the working man who does. I shall try to get it struck off. That’s if I get in mind you.” It scarcely need be said (remarks the “N.Z. Times”) that among Nelson electors these sentiments 'were applauded to the echo.