DUNEDIN.

Thames Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2960, 10 August 1878, Page 2

DUNEDIN.

Friday.

A meeting of brevvers was held here last night, when the following resolutions were passed : —" That the proposed duty of l^d per gallon on beer is oppressive and unbearable by brewers, and as a matter of fact, sweeps away at least half of their present profits." " That whereas the concession of a halfpenny on sugar is only equivalent to lOd per hogshead on beer, and that the proposed duty of 6s 6d per hogshead is equal to a tax of Is 6d per bushel on malt used in brewing, and if the proposed duty is carried into effect it will stop competition by at once closing many small already established breweries, and thereby throw a monopoly of the trade into the hands of capitalists." "That the tax must fall on brewers and hotelkeepers only, as consumers cannot be charged more than they at present pay, therefore making it class legislation, and defeating the ends for which it was proposed. " " That the drawback to be allowed on beer exported is inoperative, as no beer is exported to other colonies on account of a want of reciprocity on their part." " That the proposed duty on beer manufactured on or before the 7th of June is unjust, as many brewers have on hand large stocks of ale for six months, and that the law should not be retrospective, and many brewers have large contracts on hand which will have to be executed at the old prices." " That Messrs Joel and Marshall be appointed delegates to proceed to Wellington to act in conjunction with the delegates from other parts of the colony.