PUBLIC OPINION AND THE BUDGE1
[To THE EDITOR 07 THE " EPECT•7011.".1 Sin,—In connection with your recent remarks upon the above question, you may care to learn the opinions of one from a:nong the lower middle-class, the people who, if any, should appreciate remission in indirect taxation. I will only deal with one as an example, viz., the taking of 2d. per lb. off tea. In my family of four, we use tea at both breakfast and tea, and the quantity used is half-a.pound per week. If the grocer, notwithstanding the display of posters outside the shops of pushing tradesmen jest at the time, really allows us to get the full benefit of the reduction, we save one penny per week. This means the price of a newspaper, or a copper to the little one for sweets. But who in our family either, feels or is thankful for the reduction ? Am I able to reduce the sum handed over to my wife ? Why, she would laugh in my face. Does she appreciate the change ? I never heard her remark upon the change until I spoke to her, when the answer to my question was a remark upon something else. For curiosity I referred to the matter again this morning, and she so far understood the question that her reply was the query, " What ! are they going to raise tea ?" She did not even know, or had forgotten, that there had ever been such a thing. How much the women must have talked over the benefit to them ! But if it makes no difference to us, does it to those who are poorer ? They buy in smaller quantities, and those to whom a penny really means anything never buy so much as -41 lb. at one time ; or where a farthing can be deducted ; they neither feel, notice, nor care for such a reduction. People speaking in public have to speak about something, and the term, "Free Breakfast Table," sounds well, but the persons who applaud only do so because they are there and agree with the speaker; it never gives them a moment's thought when once outside. I actually watched at the time of this reduction, and spoke to members of both sexes, but I never found a single person, who, except for the sake of argument or politeness, took the trouble to pay any attention. The subject fell flat. Such a reduction merely means that a few millions are thrown away without any one, except those in the trade, practically being a bit the wiser, or caring one jot. They may read the announcement in the papers when it is done, and if they belong to the political party which does it, hope it may do some good, but it ends there. And yet a Chancellor, through not being one of the classes he hopes to affect, either fears to put on a 2d., or congratulates himself upon taking it off.—I am, Sir, ct.c., ONE WHO SHOULD, IIITT WHO DOESN'T FEEL A REDUCTION.
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