122 A HISTORY OF THE COLONY OF VICTORIA 



the search for it. On the other hand, the import duties were spread 

 over the widest area, and touched alike the lucky finder of fortune- 

 giving nuggets and the solitary fossiker, between whom and starva- 

 tion there was often only the forbearance of the storekeeper. 



The incidence of the tariff appears in the retrospect to have 

 been arranged on a scale verging on the ridiculous. Nearly every- 

 thing that came into the colony in the shape of eatables was 

 charged at the rate of one penny per pound weight. Millinery and 

 articles made up of silk paid duty at the rate of 5s. per cubic foot 

 on the outside measurement of the package containing them. Ap- 

 parel and slops, boots and shoes, hosiery, gloves and other personal 

 effects were 4s. per cubic foot of enclosure. And nearly every- 

 thing else that could be listed was uniformly rated at 10 per cent. 

 ad valorem. The fixed duties on the external measurement of 

 packing cases acted most inequitably, taxing a gentleman's dress 

 suit, worth 10 10s., at the same figure as a digger's moleskins and 

 jumper, worth perhaps 1 10s. Under this system the rich man 

 paid less than 5 per cent, on his apparel, and the labouring man 

 from 20 per cent, to 50 per cent. 



But such considerations were not allowed to have any influence. 

 Confident in a subservient majority, the Ministry implied that the 

 duty of the House was to comply with the mandate of the country 

 by passing the tariff, not to discuss it, so by the 19th of January 

 the resolutions for imposing the duties were agreed to, and their 

 collection at the Customs was forthwith commenced. Such a 

 course, in anticipation of the early passing of a Tariff Bill by Par- 

 liament, was stiictly in accordance with British precedent, as a 

 necessary protection of the revenue, the theory being that in the 

 event of the duties failing to become legally collectable the interim 

 payments would be refunded. But when months passed by and 

 no Customs Bill was introduced, the importers began to turn 

 restive, and Mr. O'Shanassy made an inquiry in their interest. 

 To his surprise Mr. McCulloch replied that, in consequence of an 

 agitation which had been raised by a certain class in the city 

 against the tariff, the Government, with a view to avoid jeopardis- 

 ing a measure which, after long debate, had been passed by a large 

 majority in the Assembly, had decided to include it in the Ap- 



