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The Southland Times. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 1868.

The tariff in. operation in New Zealand has long been a subject for discussion. It has been altered times without number, still it remains a conglomeration of past and present legislation. During almost every session of the Assembly for the last ten years, fresh taxes have teen imposed, and changes made upon no discernable principle of political economy. It has been So often altered that it has become a thing of shreds and patches scarcely known even to those entrusted with its working. It has long been conceded that a careful and full revision isnecessary,but nothing satisfactory has yet been accomplished. It was anticipated that Mr Stafford would have introduced a complete new Tariff Bill this ses--Bion,but no intimation has been given by the Government of such being itsintention ; the subject has been taken up by private members, and will no doubt be now well ventilated.

la the. Legislative Council on the 13th August, the hon Mr Holmes moved— " That a Select Committee be appointed {'or the purpose of examining into the practical effect of the tariff on the commerce and industrial pursuits of the people, and especially with a view to placing upon a more satisfactory basi3 the interchange of goods between this and the neighboring colonies. Mr Holmes, in moving the resolution, pointed out the defects of the existing tariff, the excessively high duties on some articles, the absence of any on others, and argued that it was an inconsistent arrangement, difficult to work, oppressive in its character, and calculated to encourage smuggling and illicit distillation. Ho said he considered that the pre-

sent system was defective. Certain articles were exempted from taxation

which could bear it as well or better than some o^ those that were taxed. His impression was that a system such as that adopted in California, of raising a revenue on all imports without reference to quality or character, but merely making the rate of duty levied commensurate with the value of the article and the class of persons who were usually the purchasers of it, would be superior to the system now in force here. He quits agreed with the principles enunciated by John Sttjabt Mill as to the manner of taxation and the class to which it should apply, he said : — ' There are some forms of indirect taxation which must be peremptorily excluded. Taxes , on commodities, for revenue purposes, must not operate as protecting duties, but must be levied impartially on every mode in which the articles can be obtained, whether produced in the country itself, or imported." ' Mr Holmes professing Free Trade instincts, strongly advocated the adoption of a mild system of protection, pointing out that this colony in its commercial relations with other colonies was placed at great disadvantage. As an illustration he pointed out that one of the anomalies connected with the system was that the (New Zealand) merchants who exported grain to Melbourne have to pay a duty to the government there of £1 per ton. > That the grain might remain in a store for a time, and it be then found that a better market for it existed in New Zealand; it would then be returned to this colony, duty free, the government of Victoria making a profit by it ot £1 per ton. Colonel Ktjssell supported the motion, stating that last year he found that the imports amounted to five millions sterling, two millions worth of which could have been grown in the colony. The Hon. Mr Taylor, while not opposing the motion, strongly supported the principles of free trade. Several other hon. members took part in the debate, and the Government not offering any opposition, the motion was carried.

The important question of Free Trade as against protection has been fairly opened, and it is to be hoped it will now be freely discussed, not only in the Council, but throughout the whole colony. The history of America, and the recent progress of Victoria in settlement and industrial pursuits evidences the soundness of the principle of protection when applied to new countries. It is simply folly to think that because England has adopted a free trade policy, which has been successful, that it must necessarily be adapted to all countries under all circumstances. It was protection that placed Great Britian in a position to advocate free trade, and every new country requires the fostering influence of protective, not prohibitory, enactments to promote the developement of its resources. Now that the question of a revision of the tariff is under discussion public opinion should be elicited on the best principle on which a new tariff should be framed.

need."

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/ST18680902.2.7

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Southland Times, Issue 1014, 2 September 1868, Page 2

Word count
Tapeke kupu
780

The Southland Times. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 1868. Southland Times, Issue 1014, 2 September 1868, Page 2

The Southland Times. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 1868. Southland Times, Issue 1014, 2 September 1868, Page 2

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