TUESDAY, APRIL 20.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 4, Issue 387, 20 April 1880, Page 2

TUESDAY, APRIL 20.

The issue that in all probability will be submitted to the people of New Zealand at the next general election will be a simple one. They will be asked to decide once for all whether the existing complicated system of taxation, which we have endeavored to show is operating so prejudicially, shall be swept away, and a .natural one substituted. About the necessity for an alteration, the evidence is so overwhelming that there should hardly be two opinions. The only question on which colonists may *be expected to differ is in reference to the particular form which this alteration is to assume. Contracted views and 6elf-interest will inevitably create a conflict of opinion as to the process to he followed. But after what this Colony has just suffered, we would fain hope that any proposition to patch-up or re-model the existing inherently pernicious system will not be entertained. The prosperity, not of individuals, or monopolies, but of the community, is the object which the electors must keep steadily in view. If this is to be at-, tamed, we must relieve commerce of the weight of taxation from which she is' suffering. We must also give our young j industries free scope by removing the \ fetters with which they are bound. How! can this be done ? Simply by substi-' tutingfor a flagrantly inequitable and, cumbrous system of taxation a natural j system. What do we mean by a natural system ? A system, we submit, which is in accordance with the laws of commerce and political economy. For just as there are principles governing the,! physical universe, to disregard which involves prompt retribution, so there are laws that govern the political life of nations, to study and abide by which is imperative if prosperity i« desired. Had : the present Government followed a* natural system -of taxation when they went into power, New Zealand would j uot at this moment present the appear-' ance of being the least prosperous Colony of the Australasian group. But instead of selecting for his guidance the - exuinpie ot that grand old Mother: Country, which, with all her huge national debt, is able to wield .a golden sceptre over half the universe, Major

Atkinson adopted for his model the taxation of a country which, with all its glorious resources and grand commercial achievements, has earned an unapproachable celebrity for its rash experiments, gigantic frauds, and political quackery. We suspect that, instead of seeking a pattern from Great Britain when he endeavored to reverse the system of taxation in this colony, Major Atkinson introduced an exploded system from America, and this constitutes tho financial rock upon which the Hall Ministry has struck.

In Great Britain, as our readers are doubtless all aware, the Government depends to a considerable extent on one tax. This we believe to be a natural impost, because it modifies the burden of taxation according to the ability to bear it. The wind is tempered to the shorn lamb. They yoke that might be oppressive if only partially applied, sits lightly and pleasantly because it is made to measure. The reaper, according to the yield he obtains, must provide the seed for the ensuing harvest. It is not the principal but the interest that contributes. The capital invested has nothing to do with the amount demanded by the Stateonly the profits. If the profits are small, so also is the contribution required. The State simply exacts in accordance with the presumed ability to pay. This is a system that has the merit of being as nearly fair as possible. The tax is adjusted so as to fall as easily and equitably as possible on the contributor. It possesses the double merit of great elasticity. It can be modified so as to exempt the weak, and it can be adopted with the utmost exactitude to the requirements or exigencies of the country. Let us contrast this natural system with the artificial and complicated system prevailing in this Colony. Nearly every tax, in the oppressive chain suspended round the necks of the people, constitutes a link in the common fetters that cripple our commerce, prevent the expansion of our manufactures, and hinder the development of our latent resources. The Customs duties are objectionable in the extreme, because they materially increase the cost of living, interfere with personal comfort, discourage settlement and improvements, and press with unfair severity on that portion of the community that is least able to contribute, They cannot be excused on the ground that they aid manufacturing enterprise, for they are indiscriminately levied. They interfere with the empployer of labor by necessitating high losses, and their evil influence on the laboring classes is so powerfully illustrated in New Zealand at present as to require no reference at our hands. Food, clothing medicine, almost everything that ministers to life and its comforts, save the atmosphere we breathe and the water from the heavens, are taxed and doubly taxed. Then, we have stamp duties*, - afflicting. trade and commerce, and operating as a brake on the machinery by which the world's products are distributed. The influence of the property tax is still more pernicious, for it is a tax on applied capital—on every kind of enterprise and improvement.

From the foregoing it will be perceived that we have a multitude of taxes interfering with our material prosperity. It will also be seen that the system of taxation which, under the pretence of dealing with the financial exigencies of the Colony, the Government has introduced is about as pernicious a system as could well be devised. If the electors as a body are true to their own interests, they will seize the earliest possible opportunity of insisting on a radical change. It is to be feared and regretted that from the present Parliament no thorough reform of taxation can reasonably be anticipated. But the opportunity will come, and when the proper time arrives, the electors must be content with no half measures. They must demand the total sweeping away of the existing system of taxation in order to make room for a system which has the advantage of proved utility. The Colony has suffered sufficiently from experimental finance, and, in order to deal effectively with the difficulties which unwise legislation has created, future safety must be sought in the adoption of Great Britain's financial lever—a national income tax.

His worship the Mayor of Christchurch has fixed Wednesday, April 21, at 7 p. m., in the Oddfellows' Hall, for holding the public. meeting of burgesses to consider the question of raising a loan for the purpose of carrying out a water supply scheme, erecting Municipal bnildings, continuing street channelling, and repaying of the present loan. The poll will be taken from a week to ten days after the public meeting is held.

On Wednesday and Thursday there were carried 28,797 bags of grain on the Christchurch section. On Thursday night the number of bags on hand at the various stations was 21,546.

The trial of the man Butler, charged with the Dunedin murder, was concluded on Saturday last, and resulted in a verdict of acquittal. The jury were nearly three hours considering their verdict. No mention was made of a nolle prosequi in the other cases, and the prisoner will be proceeded against on the charge of murdering the wife.

We are glad to learn that the new road from Le Bon's Bay to the Summit road is at last on the fair way to be completed. The tenders for the three unfinished portions are accepted. The successful tenderers are MrG. Hall Ist section, £38 16s ; the 2nd and 3rd sections, Mr 0. Evans £29 8s and £71 8s; making a total of £139 12s.

We beg to remind , our readers of the entertainments in connection with the Presbyterian Church to be held in the Oddfellow's Hall to-morrow evening, and in Pigeon Bay on Thursday evening following. The good feeling existing has been manifested hitherto by all denominations attending. We notice that the Revs. H. Stocker, J. M'lntosh, J. Hill and others are advertised to givo addresses. The musical programme of the Akaroa entertainment we give in our advertising columns. Judging from previous occasions we can promise those who attend both pleasure and profit.

We learn that a small girl, a daughter of Mr Nixon, met with an accident yesterday afternoon at the Government School. It appears she was about to enter the building when her foot slipped upon the patent scraper placed outside and she fell, inflicting a nasty cut just over her left eye. We trust the injury may be slight, but had the wound been but the least degree lower down the face it might have led to the loss of her eye. We hear that it is not the first accident which has arrisen through the same scraper and should suggest*.ita,';«removal .4nd" that • C more fittiug one be put in its. place.

A well known resident, Mr Higginson, employed- at- Mesbers Hooper and Co.'s Brewery, met with an accident which might have proved fatal on Thursday night last. It appears that the s.s. Wanaka instead of coming to the usual berth of the steamers, fearing to be caught by the tide, only came to the end of the jetty. A flashing light emanating from the steamer's lamp rendering darkness doubly dark, Mr Higginson failed to perceive the position of the boat, and instead of, as he thought, boarding- the steamer, walked off the wharf into the water, where he found himself unable to help himself in the least. A life buoy was thrown to him so skilfully, indeed, as at first to hit him on tho shoulder. He ; was, however, in time rescued, although, we believe, he was somewhat roughly handled in the operation. He was able to be out yesterday for the first time since the occurrence. We trust he will speedily recover all evil effects from his involuntary immersion.

We observe that John McGregor, of the Akaroa School has passed his pupil teacher's examination as at the end of the first year. His name stands seventh on a list numbering forty-one, of whom fifteen were unsuccessful.

The machinery for collecting the Property Tax is now complete, and the operations of valuers have already commenced. Very shortly everyone who Owns anything at all will be called upon to fill up numerous forms, schedules, &c, and to give full information, as to the value of all his possessions.. This operation will, no doubt, be a one*;for a good many who are not in" the habit of taking stock or balancing their accounts regularly. Under these circumstances a pamphlet (a copy of which has been forwarded to us), will* be of great service. It is entitled "A Guide to the Property Assessment Act, 1879," by Charles M. Crombie, Esq., Deputy Property Tax Commissioner, Wellington District. This little work contains an intelligible summary of the Act, with explanatory annotations. Also full and explicit instructions as to valuing, when different interests are involved in the same property, as for instance in the case of owner, or ground landlord, lessee, tenant and sub-tenant. This brochure should meet with a large sale, as it will be of great service to all who are affected by the tax, which number includes nearly everyone possessing a local habitation and a name.

The Christchurch Railway Band gave their last open air concert this season in Cathedral square last evening, hundreds of people being , assembled :■ to .hear them. They will give a grand benefit concert next Thursday night in the Oddfeilows' Hall, under the patronage of the Mayor and City Council of Christchurch, on which occasion it is to be expected that the public will mark their appreciation of the band's services in contributing so largely to their amusement by mustering strongly.

From a resident at Le Bon's Bay we have received a complaint which we certainly consider a just one, relative to the manner in which the Okain's Bay Road Board has of transacting business. It appears from our .informant that when tenders for work are to be called instead of advertising the same in the local paper and giving every one as fair and wide a chance of tendering as is the plan adopted by other public bodies. , They deem it sufficient to write the same on a half size sheet of note paper and stick it upon one or two walls or trees in§ the immediate vicinity of Okain's. That this course is not only an unjust one but is also a penny wise and pound fooiish policy, there can be no denying. The efficacy of advertising has been clearly demonstrated at the last two meetings of the Akaroa and Wainui Road Board by the number of applicants which have presented themselves for each small job, and where there are such numbers there can be no fear of the prices being exorbitant.

We cannot help making a passing comment upon the "monkey copying his master's the Borough Council are following. We have before alluded to the cheese-paring system adopted by the present Government. But surely cheeseparing is a fool to the policy adopted by the Council. After being jogged fifty or more times with regard to the bad

state of the footpaths and the culverts, they have at last mustered up sufficient courage actually to employ three men to clear the culverts. But just fancy, in order to save what, why a few shillings at the most, the order has been restricted to clear three feet of grass, weeds, &c, from the footpaths, not to clear the weeds away beteen the roadway and the footpaths, but to clear three feet • and leave about a foot and a half of the grass remaining. Moreover, we observe that great care has been taken not to do more than just shave the top surface off, by no manner of means to damage the roots. The old saying "weeds grow apace," will doubtless soon be realised, and in a short time the whole work will have to be done over again, a not only crying shame upon the Council, but a throwing away of the ratepayers' money.