May be enough, it does not follow that a monopoly should be given to any particular Agent, & particularly a monopoly not put up to auction or let by tender, and I do not see why some funeral regulation should not have been passed allowing any person on certain conditions the privilege of retailing stamps bright- at a very small rate of discount - the sale being once effected would make a reasonable profit on the transaction, or that Government would be exposed to loss of 10%/% a goodly portion of its present Revenue? I point this out, say that the scheme must be reported as an experiment of which an early Report on its working should be forthcoming.
I 'We cannot afford to tamper with the Stamps Revenue, which is very considerable; we should take care that Chinese traders also do not get any advantage over the European merchants.'
Mr. Kennifry says it would amount to $10000 to $20000 a year. The question was brought before the Executive Council who recommended that the scheme should be tried experimentally put in force. In opposition was started by the Collector of Stamps who talked of $40,000 a year; & requested the farm be stopped.
with a full Report of the working of the scheme after 3 months - 13 Sep 1879 - and I think we might add that 5% seems an unreasonably high percentage, & that the arrangement for calculating & paying in seems open to improvement.
Page 407
It is shown that he expects & the Reason of from
All the merchants in the Colony resorting to this Agent, buying stamps at 5% discount, so that each party would be making a profit.
undertake to show whether the Agents cannot
Page 407 (end of page signal, kept as is)