PROTECTION IN QUEENS LAND.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 301, 22 September 1888, Page 4

PROTECTION IN QUEENS LAND.

In the Queensland Assembly to-day Sir Thomas Mcllwrnith made hi> Financial Statement. The estimated expenditure for the year 1888-0 is £3,564,000, and the estimated revenue is £3,429,000, leaving a deficiency ot £153,000. It is proposed to meet the deficiency by raising, through the Custom* alone, £207,000, leaving 1 an estimated surplus at the end of next year of £72,000. It is proposed to abolish the royalty on timber, and i^sue licenses for cutting and removing it which to some extent will make good the de'iciency caused by the abolition, of royalty, and to increase the duty on imported timber by 6d per 100 superficial feet. The ex cisc t/'uty is to be abolished on colonial beer, and to balance this it is proposed to raise the import duty on malt from 6d to 3s per bushel, on hops from 2d to 6d per lb, and on glucose for the manufacture of beer the present ad valorem duty will be exchanged tor a tax of £5 per ton. The Treasurer regards unfavourably both the land and income tax. The C4overn ment propose to repeal the old taiilF entix'ely, and to remodel it on a protection basis, the ad valorem duties to be increased from 7^ to 15 per cent. Referring to the importation ot fa ming produce from the southern colonies, Queensland imports are said to be 24 jjer cent, per head more than those ot New South Wales, and 39 per cent, more than those of Victoria, and it has been decided, therefore, to foster the farming industry in Queenslanl by increasing the duty on malt, hops, barley, oats, maize, bran, pollard, cheese, bacon, hama, butter, pork, lard, onions, potatoes and* garden produce. After mature deliberation ib was also decided to propose an increased duty on machinery, with a few exceptions, namely — that which cannot be made in bl»e colony. Printing paper and paper for making up stationery was made free of duty. Boots and shoes have the ad valorem duty on them 'doubled 1 , namely — from 7£ to 15 per cent. In framing the tariff the Trea sui'er had as much regard as possible to giving encouragement to trade inside the colony without bearing oppressively on any portion of the community. The following are> the principal items affected by the new tariff, which come* into operation to-morrow morning : — Tallow and stearine, l^d j per lb ; candles, 3d per lb ; cheese, bacon and hams, 3d per lb ; confectionery and leather, 4d per lb ; hops, 6d per Ibj coal, 2s per ton ; potatoes, hay and chaff, 15s, and onions 20s per ton ; wheat, 6d ; barley, 9d ; maize and oats, 8d ; bran and pollard-, 4d ; malt, 3s ; beans and peas, Is — a 1 per bushel ; manulactured tobacco, 3s, and unmanufactured, Is 6d, per lb j cigars and cigarettes, 6s per lb ; glucose, £5

per ton ; sparkling wines, 10s, and wines containing over 25 per cent, of alcohol, 12s per gallon ; log and undressed timber, Is 6d, and dressed timber, 2s per 100 superficial feet ; boots and shoes, 8s to 22s per dozen pairs, according to sizes ; cotton, flannel, lines and moleskin piece goods, £10 per every £100 worth ; machinery and boilers, fixed aboard and used in propelling any vessel into Queensland, £15 for every £100 value of such vessels being traders within Queensland. It was resolved to consider the Financial Statement on Thursday.