The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1876-07-01
The Proposed Revenue Changes.

HoNoLUIU June 26th, 1876.
70 The EiifoT Of The Pacific Commercial Advertiser:
SIR II was glad to see expression OF opinion
in the Gazette of the 2lst from one of our promi-
nent merchants upon the proposed revenue changes
It was no doubt partly with the object OF obtain
ing the views of that part OF the community that
is so directly interested in the proposed new taxes
that the plans OF the Minister Of Finance have been
put forward in advance Of any Acts TO carry them
ont As Mr.. Davies observes in his letter on this
subject the Ministers have had ample time to con-
slider these questions and If the plan proposed by
them is not pretty nearly the best general plan
that can be adopted, agree with Mr.. Davies, that
II ought TO be- and the Ministers have no apol-
ooy to offer if il is not His Maesty's Government
must expect criticism, and they should not ask
that their proposals be handled with gloves on.
Mr.. Davies has done public service by boldly
and promptly attacking the scheme OF the Govern
ment at every point where he considers II vulnera-
bIe and such points in Mr.. Davies view TO
exist pretty nearly all round il. Let MS then ex-
anime how far the different objections which Mr.
Davies makes TO the Government are wen con
sidered.
The first objection is placed in such clear aud
definite language aud would be so serious. II true.
that cannotdO better than reproduce II here. Mr.
Davies says d" There are many who will have no
benefit from the Treaty-cergymen principals
and teachers Of schools, families living on small
3 6xed incomes and others whose names we can hi
in from our own circles and il would be a scan
daI and an Injustice to saddle them with such
LIST of taxes as the Minister Of Finance proposes
and for such an object-the relief Of Agriculture
To many, our cheap housekeeping has been
great boon but now il is proposed 10 seriously n-
crease the cost of nearly all their necessares oil lie
and TO extort an unheard Of tax from any little
/ money they may have saved, and all 20 make up
this deficit Now Mr. Editor, Mr.. Davies admits
ne and others were startled " when the Govern
ment plan was brought forward and be may have
written the above sentence under the influence OF
that state Of mind, but am surprised that shTewd
man of business should even under those cireunl-
I stances have committed himself 10 a statement 20
much at variance with the facts as that contained
in the last part OF IT, Why Mr. Editor, IL seems to
me that il is Just the necessaries Of life which are
/ relieved from taxes by the proposed change But
Z il will perhaps be more satisfactory 20 place IN
two columns the main necessaTies OF life which
/ enter into the question Of housekeeping. In one
4 column those which lOper cent is taken OH and
in the other those including Of the same lux
urieS Oh which ID per cent to be added As IL well
known the price which will he paid by the con-
sumer will be neither as much as 10 per cent less
than he has been paying on the one class nor 10
/ per cent more the other class inasmuch as the
rates of duty foreign cost, not on the price
here But a. the object is comparison IL may not
be necessary to consider this point at present, and
any housekeeper who il in the habit ot keeping an
account of his expenses may estimate what be Will
probably gain or lose under the new proposed
tariff