CO129-016 - Sir John Davis - 1846 [1-6] — Page 337

and I have now the honor to forward them with this Despatch .

I am inclined to think that the probable net produce of the tare is underrated, and that the consumption of Spirituous and Fermented Liquors, is actually greater than calculated. With regard to the hardship to which the consumers would be expoad, it may be observed that they neither pay the English duties, which

*

are

drawn back

on er

exportation,

mor

the

duties levied in the Chinese Ports; and

that they obtain all importations from foreign countries entirely frees

ad

The complaints of the Colonists, to being taxed at all, are fully answered in the late Despatch from the Colonial Office, Nr 32 of of th March.

With regard to the supposed preference of Macao, I am not aware

-

that

333

that a single English firm has existed

there for about a twelvemonth past=

As

-

am

a general conclusion, I am disposed to attach most importance to the

in the

argument in faver of some delay in

imposition of the tar, with a view to g

to giving full play and encouragement to the vesting of permanent, interests in the Colony. The question is thus reduced to merely

merely one of time. The ultimate justice and expediency

of the measure are

e fully come out's first, by the universal practice of Her Majesty' s Colonial Governments, and secondly by the consideration that Spirituous and

most

Fermented Liquiors, of all others the legitimate subjects of taxation, are burthened with imposts to the poorer classes of this Colony, while to the nicher

much cheaper than in

are

they England.