LAND, LABOUR AND COMMERCE 157 



The duties on South Sea products, save those on oil, had 

 been levied first by Bligh, and those on oil by Vlacquarie. 1 But 

 the latter was far from defending them, and wrote that they 

 were "as impolitic in principle as they have been proved by the 

 experience of several years to be unproductive in revenue". 2 

 He dwelt on the lack of other exports and the expensive out- 

 fit necessary for whaling, proposing that a drawback should be 

 allowed. Lord Bathurst agreed to this, and by an Act of Par- 

 liament of 1819 this drawback was permitted. 3 The duties on 

 timber were withdrawn by order of the Governor in 1821.* 

 Two additional imposts were laid in 1818, a duty of 6d. a Ib. 

 on tobacco and an increase in the duty on spirits, which brought 

 the whole up to IDS. a gallon. The purpose of the latter was 

 " to lighten the burthen of this Colony on the mother country " 

 as well as to restrain " the present immoderate consumption of 

 spirituous liquors ". 5 The actual effect of the measure was to 

 increase the revenue without achieving any reduction in con- 

 sumption. As a matter of fact it could not have done both. 

 The tax on tobacco a tax which it could easily stand was 

 intended to serve as a protective duty and foster home-pro- 

 duction ; but towards that end it was ineffective. 



The duties were not exacted very strictly, and the Govern- 

 ment were usually ready to take security for their payment. 

 In 1820 no less a sum than 4,024 was owing, and the 

 Governor held unrealised securities, some of which dated back 

 to the time of King and Bligh. 6 



The cotton goods, sugar, rice and tea, which formed a great 

 part of the colonial trade, were imported direct from India and 

 China under licenses from the Bengal Government and the 

 regulations of the committee of super-cargoes at Canton. 7 The 

 voyage to and from China lasted about three or four months, 

 and the delays in port at Sydney were the cause of many com- 



1 G.G.O., 26th June, 1813. 2 D. 21, isth May, 1817. R.O., MS. 



3 59 Geo. III., cap. 114. 4 G.G.O., 3ist March, 1821. 



5 D. 3, isth May, 1818. R.O., MS. Macquarie was always dissatisfied with 



the 5 per cent, ad valorem duty, wishing to substitute a more complicated scale 

 at a higher rate levied on weight and quantity, but Bathurst did not approve it. 

 See D. 3. 



6 Bigge's Report, III. See also Chapter X. 



7 In accordance with Charter of East India Company. 



