Rice for Example.

Rice was taxed at a specially high rate, with the nominal object of collecting special revenue from a large influx of Chinese gold-diggers, which was expected, but has not occurred. Practically, the consumption of rice, chiefly by British colonists, during four years, valued at £184,119, has enabled an equal amount of other farinaceous food to be exported. The tax paid by its importers, at the very high rate of one halfpenny per pound, about 25 per cent, on the value of Bengal rice landed in New Zealand, must thus have amounted in four years to about £46,000! The tax on flour, at an average price of £13 10s. free of duty, has been 7.4 per cent. Allowing for the higher rate of duty on biscuits and other farinaceous things besides rice and flour, the importers of all such food besides rice have paid, during four years, about £41,700. Total duty collected on all imported farinaceous food for four years, £90,700, equal to 12£ per cent, on the whole importation.