The Akaroa Mail. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 3, Issue 224, 10 September 1878, Page 2

The Akaroa Mail. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10.

Owing to the •' Parliamentary Excursion " of last week, we have but little to record of the doings of our legislators in Wellington. The question of the incidence of taxation is, of course, the prominent point of debate ; some even of the Government supporters have been said to be inclined to support a property and income, in place of either the land, or the beer, tax. The idea, however, that the Ministry would permit of such an alteration of their policy and yet remain in office, cannot for an instant be entertained. The decided attitude assumed by them has rallied their wavering adherents, and there is every probability of the proposals of the Government being carried with little or no difficulty. The prospect, too, of a dissolution, which would be consequent on a defeat, is unwelcome ; more particularly t<* such members as have failed to answer the expectations of their constituents.

As far as the tax on beer is concerned, it is scarcely probable that it would be thrown out. The debate on the land tax has given a tolerably clear indication of the fortune awaiting the other Bills by which Ministers have agreed to stand or fall. The Beer Bill in itself does not, to us, seem by any means satisfactory. Colonial beer cannot be credited with any but an infinitesimal share of the evils caused by drink in the colony ; and as, after all, the burden of the tax will eventually fall on the brewer and the publican, it is unjust that the consumer, who is to blame if he exceeds, should escape his share of a tax imposed avowedly in the interests of temperance. That the question of temperance is largely involved in the point at issue is shewn by Mr Fox's advocacy of the measure ; but if the publicans' interest exceptionally is to be touched in any way at all, the attack should be made on badly distilled spirits, and hot on a product which is comparatively harmless. Of all possible taxes, an income tax seems to us the least objectionable ; provided that the lino be drawn at a point which will prevent the tax pressing on incomes less than £200 a year. The land tax, in the case of absentees, is also desirable, but the limit in the case of resident owners cannot be so easily fixed with regard to landed, as it can be with respect to funded property, or fixed incomes. One hundred pounds is worth as much as another hundred pounds ; but one acre of land and another acre are by no means neccessarily of the same value. Thus the question of assessment is re-opened. We submit these suggestions to the consideration of our readers, reserving any criticisms of our own till such time as we receive the particulars of the debate.

After careful inquiry from reliable sources, wo conclude that the Land Tax Bill will be carried through by a majority of 22 or 24—that is, supposing a division is forced, which is probable, although some of the Oppositionists would rather not sco a division at all.