CURRENT TOPICS.
At every general election, the question of the form m which direct taxation should be raised comes under the review of candidates aud electors, and while on the one hand there are found defenders of the present Property tax, as take it j all round the most just and least offensive impost that can be devised, there is on the other as largo or perhaps a greater number who declare that its operation is Exceedingly unequal and unjust, and that a Land and Income-tax would be infinitely preferable. We are of the latter opinion for reasons which have been frequently stated, and it is not necessary here to reiterate them; but opposed to the Property-tax as we are, we had no idea that its administration by the department could develope such hardships as are referred to by the writer under the heading of " Calamo ■ Cwrente" m the "New Zealand Herald." That vigorous paragraphist characterises the Property-tax as " a monstrous inquity," which he declares amounts m scores and hundreds of instances to " robbery and confiscation." He gives the following as an example m proof of that assertion. " A man who has been m business In Auckland for thirty yearsjailed lately, and his whole estate went into liquidation m the hands of trustees. The amount available to the creditors was, as usual m such cases, a mere trifle. But imagine the surprise of the trustees at getting a demand from Mr Sperry for property-tax on some £1500. When the valuation was made the man was worth that amount, or was imagined to be so. The trustees wrote to Taxgatherer Fperry representing the circumstances, and showing how hard it would be if the small dividend which remained for the creditors were reduced by the amount of the Property -tax. Mr Sperry, confident m the support of Sir H. Atkinson, who thinks the tax the best of all possible imposts, and who cannot imagine that any instance of unfairness can arise under it, simply reiterated his demand with threats, and the money has to be paid."
There are still a number of amiable and well-meaning people at Borne, who know so little about the Australasian offshoots of the Empire that they imagine that "anything is good enough for the colonies," and busy themselves m exporting the human rubbish of their citie3 to the lands beneath the Southern Cross, under the belief that quantity and not quality is all we look for m the matter of population. For example, a Melbourne exchange says, that " There is a philanthropic society m London which does a power of good m one way or another, but which is not likely to earn the gratitude of the Australian people. The members persist m regarding these colonies as a penal settlement, and have expended a large sum during this year m forwarding us 105 able-bodied gentlemen who have been discharged from prison after serving terms for trifling offences like burglary, assault, and arson." This is a pleasant state of affairs truly, and affords the delightful prospect of the establishment m Australasian cities of schools of crime founded by the best imported talent. As to this the writer of the above quoted extract goes on to say, '*The St. Giles's Mission (society evidently labors under the delusion that we have run short of willing and enterprising criminals out here, and is exerting itself to keep up the supply, and, until it ia checked by a large, unanimous and enthusiastic Australian anathema, it will doubtless continue to develop this branch of its labors. In the face of the fact that Australia has been agitated from stem to stern over a possible rush of French convicts to the Pacific Islands, this action of the St. G.M.S. is about as elaborate and artistic a specimen of effrontery as we have met with m a long public career." The matter is one to which the attention of the Agents-General should be called by the various Colonial Governments, and the public generally will heartily concur m the hope expressed " that something will be done with force and promptitude to convince this mission society that we do not think the London rough such a vast improvement on his Parisian brother as to hunger for his company."
Fhom the subject of criminals to that of capital purisbmentis an easy transition, and it is noteworthy than m America and on the Continent discussion is now going on as to whether the methods of enforcing the extreme penalty of the law are not barbarous and behind the times, and whether the rope and the guillotine should not be discarded m favor of some more certain, scientific, and painless mode of extinction. The guillotine is a ghastly affair, and before now painful scenes have occurred through its mismanagement, while English scaffolds have frequently witnessed the most terrible spectacles as the result of blundering on the part of the executioner, Sorely if life must be taken as the law's forfeit, it should be taken swiftly, painless, and unerringly, and all these conditions can be readily fulfilled by the employment of electricity. A Commission recently appointed by the State of Kew York declares that m the interests of humanity this is the agent which should be adopted 3 and as a minor consideration it is pointed out that it even has the recommendation of economy. The following methods are described : — " One patentee proposes to put the patient standing on a zinc plate and to crown him with a brass or copper zone. The electric current will move from both extremities, and death will be immediate. Another system is even more humane. There is cruelty m requiring the standing position. The convict is seated m an arm-chair, of which the arms are metal ; his feet are on a zinc plaque, and the fatal shock can be administered by merely touching a button. The battery which would thus take the place of the common hangman cen be installed for £200, and utilised for less awful purposes," r J he subject is not a pleasant one, but for all that we should like to see public attention directed to it,. as if that were the case we are persuaded that public opinion would ere long lead to the necessary legislative action.
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Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1809, 7 April 1888, Page 4
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1,047CURRENT TOPICS. Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1809, 7 April 1888, Page 4
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