In a lengthier report upon the Indian Budget, forwarded to
the Times, a noteworthy fact comes out. All the native meir hers of the Legislative Council, except one, resisted the redu tion of the salt duties, upon the ground that nobody particular felt them. There is no doubt they are wrong, but the of strong feeling of the higher natives in favour of these dntie a curious phenomenon. Even in the Punjab, most seri remonstrances were addressed to Sir John Lawrence against light salt duties, on the ground that "he was cutting away resources of any Government" which might succeed British ; and we believe every popular meeting upon munici taxes has been in favour of octroi duties. The truth is, wi suppose, that native economists, like many in Enrope also, can- not believe in the injury done by indirect taxation, or that a few farthings a pound levied on an article of universal con- sumption may arrest the very sources of wealth.
Previous page
