THE FINANCIAL STATEMENT

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XVI, Issue 5097, 7 August 1895, Page 3

THE FINANCIAL STATEMENT

MR HOGG AND THE TEA < DUTY. The debate 011 the Financial Statement was commenced in the House last night. Mr A. W. Hogg, in the course of his speech, said that the increased cost of the administration of the Government of the Colony he thought a matter requiring consideration. Ho did not say the Government were to blame for this, but the matter nevertheless required attention. The increase being made 1 in the already large salaries paid to the officers of the public service could not be allowed' to continue ; while the wages of the working classes were being reduced as those of the co-operative labourers were by their being put 011 short time. No tariff, proposals had ever given satisfaction, and he was therefore not All surprised at the Government proposals of this year being abused. Ho would say, however, that he had j heard very little said in commendation of it, hut a good deal of abuse, He recognised that the Tariff Commission had been a very painstaking body, but did not think it the body best suited for the work, Instead of reducing the tax on tea by Id per lb which did not benefit the consumer but aifected the revenue seriously, lie advocated an increase of tho tax by 6d, This would not seriously affect the working classes, and would

strengthen the revenue considerably, and provide funds for public works or settlement purposes.