THE TAX ON SPIRITS.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume I, Issue 16, 20 April 1867, Page 2

THE TAX ON SPIRITS.

The heavy tax imposed on spirits is not to discourage their importation or con* sumption, hut to augment the revenue, and for that, reason the Government is justified in imposing sueh a rate of duty as will not defeat the object intended to be secured, either by the encouragement of smuggling, or by virtually offering a premium for illicit distillation. That the excessive duty now levied on spirits does both is placed beyond ciuestion. Take for instance the article wnisky. It is a well-known fact that this article is sold throughout the colony at a lower price than the actual duty; it is therefore to bo presumed that the said article has never had the honor of passing through the Custom-house. Upon this subject a wellinformed correspondent says:— There is every encouragement given to smugglers and illicit distillers, the rate of duty being much too high, and no force appointed to prevent or seize upon those engaged in this dishonest pursuit. I feel quite confi. dent weie the duties on spirits reduced to the

previous me, viz., 9s per gallon, much of this nefarious trade would be done away with, and that the leceipts of the Customs would be greatlv improved. There can be no doubt that the duty of 12s per proof gallon on spirits is ridiculously high, and it would almost appear as if a premium was offered to the man who can introduce spirits illegally. As the time is approaching for the meeting of the General Assembly we direct the attention of the Colonial Treasurer and the Commissioner of Customs to the subject The experience of former years would appear to indicate that 9s per proof gallon was the maximum rate of duty'that could be properly levied on spirits, and our correspondent, wdio is no mean authority, says that “.he is confident the actual increase in the quantity of spirits that would pay duty would more than cover the deficiency arising from the reduction in the duty.” It is well that he says “ more than cover the deficiency,” as if it. would not more than do so,fit would be in vain to expect that, however injurious to the honest trader, the Government would voluntarily reduce the dutv.