The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. MONDAY, SEPT. 16, 1907.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2186, 16 September 1907, Page 2

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. MONDAY, SEPT. 16, 1907.

SWEATING THE SOVEREIGN. If Sir Joseph Ward could have been persuaded to express his inmost thoughts he probably would liavo stated on many occasions that lie heartily wished he had never meddled with tho tariff, but despito tho incident which brought about his implied threat of a dissolution, his path was a bed of roses compared with that of Sir William Lyne, who lias sot himself a similar task in tho Federal Parliament. The N.Z. Premier and his Minister of Customs, Mr. Millar, framed their new soliedule very cleverly, giving a few sops to the freetraders whilst materially raising duties in other directions, but the Australian Minister has gono “baldheaded” for a tariff that from a British standpoint is exceptionally high. •In doing so lie has raised such strong opposition that it is questionable whether the Government of which he is a member can survive the storm. Whilst Mr. Lyne is claiming that his tariff will encourage Australian industries to such an extent that work will be plentiful and wages high, the Freetrade 'organs are telling him •bluntly that he does not understand the first principles of political economy. Under prominent headings, such as “The Oppressive tariff,” the Sydney and Melbourne dailies quote •numberless instances where tlie new duties are said to be crippling the •working man. The Melbourne -Argus puts it this way:—“The sovereign is ‘sweated’ when its purchasing power is decreased just as effectively as when its weight is diminished. It now takes 22s to obtain as much value in pipes for smoking and woollen goods for wearing as 20s would formerly buy. In respect to stockings, perambulators, hair and tooth •brushes, and similar goods, the sovereign has been sweated to the amount of 3s of its purchasing power. •In regard to articles dike blacking •and boot polishes, blankets, cotton •and linen goods, the ‘sweating’ process has gone to the length of nearly 4s in the pound. Therefore, the •people refuse to be silent when Sir William Lyne says soothingly. ‘Hush 1 You may feel it a little now, but in six months you will be better off than ever.’ The important busines of rearing heailthy children is seriously discouraged by the Lyne tariff. Infants’ and invalid foods have previously been duty free, but now there has been imposed 20 per cent, duty on the food, 20 per cent, duty on the cases, and lOd per dozen duty on the bottles. These duties are cumulative, for tlie food is usually contained in bottles which are packed in cases. What wonder then that a, ‘Distracted Father’ writes that the price of malted milk for his child’s consumption has been raised in price Is ljd per week. The supposed protection on the child’s perambulator or go-cart has so seriously increased tho price of the raw material of manufacture that a 35s article will in future cost 40s. Is that the way to encourage ‘infant industries’? Somehow or other tho delicate infant must bo supplied with the special food which suits it and an easy-run-ning cart to take the air, and the distracted father has to pay. Naturally lie finds it impossible to ‘pay and look pleasant.’ Tlie reason that the outcry against the Lyne tariff increases in volume and bitterness as the ■weeks pass is that so many of the duties are of such an insidious,indirect character that time is required to reveal their full effects. Every case is not so glaring and direct as that which the unhappy importer of Adelaide had to face, who had a consignment of goods to land the value of which was £BO, whilst the duties under the new schedule amounted -to £260. Still more amazing and disconcerting was the experience of the merchant of .Perth, who, upon a consignment of chairs from Canada, is required to pay £1093 duty, instead of £77 under the old tariff. ‘What am I to do?’ asks the horror-stricken recipient of his Parliamentary representative, Mr. Hodges. If the question is passed on to Sir William Lyne, the reply will be, ‘Let him pay the duty, and ho will feel much better 6ix months lienee.’ These are the llagrant cases, but other duties arc

imposed with so much ingenuity that only at tho Oustom-liouso do thoy reveal their remarkable rango and grip. iSueli .an instance was that ot a small shipment of 'bottles which, under the old tariff of 20 per cent., would have paid 5s sd; but the Lyne tariff, by charging at so much per cubic foot on the ' outsido measurement of the package, has raised the duty to £1 Is, or something ovor 100 per cont. W»t somo .people wondor why prices go up. Tho mention of that percentage recalls tho magnificent .ascension of tho ‘skyscraper’ duties. They riso on a beautiful ascending scale •from 45 per cont. on apparel, through 50 and 70 per cent, on corks, to 100 per cont. on lounges and preserve! fish and bicycles, thence by a leap to 200 por cent, on lamp globes, dates, and Vienna ebairs, to 600 por cont. on buggy bodies.” Tlioso aro somo of tho ’arguments that Sir William Lyne has been called upon to faco, and present indications are that if his tariff goes through it will ho in a considerably modifiel form.