Tariffs

[alt_lucius]

Nauseatingly long session today for the Committee for Regulation of Magical Commerce. Three of the eight approved Wizard importers of commodities have been denounced and had to be replaced. Padraig MacMillan insists on reading every proposal verbatim, which takes three times as long as it ought. As if we haven't already reviewed them privately, though of course in the case of Bertram Higgs, I'm not entirely sure he can read. Spent half the morning debating whether to accept a domestic substitute for citrus fruits. Ridiculous. The transfigured items never hold up at all well and it's not as if it's impossible to find certified Wizard growers, it's just a bit more expensive.

Which brings me to the tariff issue. Revati Patil insists that the tariff on imported produce is too high for the average wizard family. She would have the Committee ratify a measure to impose tariffs only on so-called 'luxury' items, or at the least to put a sliding scale into effect.

Rubbish.

It's a blatant attempt to lower the tariff across the board, so that families of lesser purity and class can attain the same privileges as their superiors. To say nothing of the fact that importing exotics is simply more expensive. The preservation spells are tricky to perform well. Alternatives such as sending the produce by portkey are unreliable, particularly across such vast distances as the Atlantic. And of course, the protective spells would still require that the said produce arrive at a supply house to be brought in via channel boats or, more likely, the Oldcastle Chunnel, so we should still have to pay the Agents France in Calais and Boulogne for storage and upkeep while we bring the freight in past the protections.

Moreover, for those who simply refuse to pay for the real thing, the transfigured domestic substitutes are, I am told, virtually indistinguishable in flavour and texture, even if they don't preserve as well. Why should we deny pureblooded and productive wizard subjects their choice, if they can afford the difference? I see no reason to change policy for the lowest denominator.

In any event, in addition to certifying three replacement suppliers out of the ten firms that applied, there was also the matter of imported dragon parts. Heartstrings and livers in particular. Half the committee favoured licensing the Romanian supplier at a twenty percent markup for importation. The other half opposed on the grounds that the dragon hatchery on the Isle of Lewis finally, after nearly seven years, has reached colony strength and can harvest without depleting its numbers precipitously. MacMillan let the debate go on far too long. The opposition failed to see the simple mathematics in the equation. Ironic, considering that the tax collected on the imported (and frankly, more mature) ingredients would more than match the produce tariff, all of which would fund the labour camps without the need for additional levies on the 'poor working class wizard.'

No sooner did we leave the Committee chamber than Rookwood found me and wanted a word about his latest research on spontaneous magical transference. Requested that his allowance of Muggle subjects be increased another twoscore. Told him to send the order to Crispin for formal application to the Labour Committee, but I'm confident it will be approved. Didn't stop him from wanting to outline his findings.


Glad to see that the titillation over Black's outrageous and treasonous claims has passed for the most part unremarked. Amanda writes that her acquaintances found it an amusing diversion, but otherwise they attribute it to the MacMillan streak, well-known for impulsive and unwise acts of stupidity.

Also, Perks's entries are proving somewhat intriguing. More evidence that those children who are introduced early to a preparatory curriculum of proper wizarding values shall adopt a more desirable and thus productive attitude when they enter their magical education. Occurs to me that Perks has not been assigned a host family for her holidays. Must remember to have Crispin put me in Warrington's book to have a glance at Purity Control's placement status.

Comments

[alt_draco]

Host family? Father, do you mean to say that Sally Anne is a halfblood?

[alt_lucius]

Draco, you know perfectly well that half-bloods have a choice. If they renounce their Muggle ancestry and devote themselves to productive contribution to the State, then they are rewarded accordingly with the same privileges as their pureblood relations. Your housemate appears, at least, to adopt a sensible approach to her legacy--and as such, while she will never be as acceptable as you or I, she shows ... promise.

[alt_draco]

I know about the halfbloods. I'm just surprised, I guess. That she is one.

[alt_lucius]

Yes, precisely. That's a sign of her integration.

I trust you shall use this intelligence appropriately,

[alt_mcgonagall]

Lucius, as I know you have some say in these things, I must stress that Hogwarts is grateful for every luxury you can squeeze for our tables. It is simply impossible to Transfigure enough for all the students - and of course proper nutrition is so important for children. Thus far we have followed a policy of giving the younger children first go at fruit and veg, but our students are still growing throughout their time here.

Which is to say, I am most interested in procuring enough clementines for all the students at Christmas. Please keep me informed.

[alt_lucius]

Sympathetic as the Committee are to the needs of Hogwarts, Minerva, it's quite impossible for me to say which way MacMillan and Patil will Apparate. Although one might remember that Patil's daughters and MacMillan's nephew are now at school, and this influence, even more than my own, may move them to greater generosity.

Didn't I see something in the latest annual report to the Governors that Professor Sprout has been working with Professor Acton on creating special weather charms over one of the greenhouses, in order to create a more temperate climate for tropical gardening?

[alt_mcgonagall]

She has! And with great success, too. The only problem is that it isn't nearly large enough for an orangery, and there seems to be no good way to expand the charm to a larger space. They have it packed to the brim with plants, but it seems that the best we can hope for is strawberries out of season.

[alt_lucius]

I am certain something can be done to supply a little additional cheer, provided that the reports from the school continue favourable.