The Governments Proposed Tariff Analysed.

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 221, 24 September 1887, Page 1

The Governments Proposed Tariff Analysed.

The Stout- Vogel Ministry were defeated upon a proposal to increase taxation by over a quarter of a million (£260,000) and appealed to the country. You are now told that they -vveze defeated because they wanted to protect local industries despite the words uttered by Sir Julius Vogel when introducing the proposal — "The increase in the tariff is for revenue purposes." Where does the protection come in ? £186,000 is the sum to be enacted through the Customs, and no less than £110,000 is to be collected from drapery, of which calicoes, silicia^, Hollands, ?liirtings, &c. , have hitherto been free. These are all required largely foi us in local manufactures. Is this protecting local industries or putting a tax upon the materials W8 use ? What classes use met largely the goods referred to ? The working classes. Then is this a help to them ? Just £25,000 is to be derived from increased duties on groceries. This cannot be a blesbing, but most certainly a heavy burden upon the working classes. £12,000 is the increase on spirits. £10,000 on paints, cement, paper, patentmedicines, &c. Will this foster local industries ? Do we produce an)' of these ? £5,000 on fresh vegetables and L'uifc. i Why ? Is it because the competition of Victorian Chinese is ?o keen? Are they flooding us with garden stuff? £11,000 has to bee contributed by boots and shoe?, and looks at the first glance to be protection, but one-third of the sum is on leather, not likely to be produced here, but used in local manufactories. Boot uppers, ladies' prunella boots, and babies' shoes contribute a big sum, yet these will always be imported, therefore this is a tax on the boot industries already established. Who will have to "pay the piper "in this case ? Whose pocket will the most of the money come out of ? Why, the working classes. Their hard-earned savings must be still further drawn upon. They must be squeezed to find the funds to keep in power a most costly and extravagant Ministry, whose aim appears to be to feather there own nests by drawing big sums for travelling expenses, &c. If you disagree with this, if you don't wish for further taxation, which will be applied in the way indicated, you will vote for those pledged to oppose increased taxation.