RE MORTGAGE TAX.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 490, 24 April 1909, Page 10

RE MORTGAGE TAX.

: Sir;— There , has been-a good deal of discussion in regard to,'tliis matter of late, but apparently the main point lias been -missed; or,- possibly, not been brought forward: clearly,- namely, that the' investment oojnr | panies which liavo-been: forced out of New Zealand by the Government were-* not on a fair basis as. compared with the Loans', to Settlers' Department. , Had the Government imposed on this Department the'same- tax, license fees, etc., wiiich-tboy imposed-upon companies doing business in tno colony, many of these companies would still bo in existence '.arid -be: doing' good Work for the colony at the present moment. I can speak with knowledge :in , referenco_ to ,»on§. --.company -that I was.connected, witli'i'; In '|tSting v b«r*iir**;;T»V;gr dld-'"'Couriti'y at- the 'sanie Zealand ' Government ,(3jr per cent;),* ahdnad it not bteii ioi;■ iiiL» tax, license fees, etc., wo ' sliouM not nave been compelled to ceasebusiness, but would in all probability- have; been carrying , o'n business: now. If the Loans; to Scttldrfe.De- 1 partmeiit' had 'theSo;taxcß and .fees, if would have'only beck' the !gcneral public, who have, had to provide money for.:people'Requiring it',without taxes.' - ' _• - It lias to bo borne in ; mind that the; Government "has lost an enormous amount of revenue, the Cost of collecting which would : -.be almost nil; • ■ from' ■ these 1 companies' who have been foroed' out ! ;of. the colony, while ■the Department is not-paying anything-to make up for this lost taxation, which has to be bSrne by tho general; public in' some other r manner.—l am; etc., ■ ;.- n-■--- , NfIJIESIS ' ' April i 22.-- '; V. I. THE WRECK OF THE PENGUIN. Sir,—As tho inquiry into die wreck uf thq Penguin is over, and. the -judgment of the Court been dolivercd, I hope you will give me a little space in your columns in which to say something-on the subject..- .. -.'■ . • -Tho nautical men who at .the inquiry soemed to think that, Providence is responsible for inost of the wrecks that ocour; their opinion, however, is -Mt-shared by the general for .tliey believe that wrecks of vessels are in most, instances ■ caused.:by, ignorance, inoxperiencc,; carelessness, or ■ insobriety on the part of .those, in command. _ My only son, a noble and upright man in the prime of youth and strength,wasdrowned at tho wreck,of the Penguin;, he ,was tho sole Bupport of my old age, and. that ,of his father and sister, but'l am not writing this, with ill-feeling. towards those who "are responsible for tho calamity; my "'object is to, draw the attention of tho people.or Now Zealand to the fact that they should_ urge on dur; Government the necessity of placing sufficient lights and tho best' life-saving appar'atns on the dangerous parts of our ooasts. : - They should also ask Parliament to- place ; legislation on tho' statutes which will compel companies and others who own vessels to provide those -in tho passenger-carrying trade with the best life-saving appliances, and,- above all, should insist that tho ablest and most'experienced masters _aro placed, in command; of such vessels, especially those which carry passengers over ' dangerous routes like- Cook Strait; Their time-tables, too, should be rogulated so as to' make masters of .vessels understand that during foggy_ or tempestuous weather their first consideration must be tho safety of the lives of those passengers < under their care, without anyjregard to running up to time. If these things arb done, the lives of those people who travel. by sea will be safeguarded as far as possible, and the anguish of hearts caused by tho late dreadful shipwreck will be prevented in tho future; I ha7o been very ill, and am unable ,to write, more, but I hope someone who is able will: from time to time keep the matter before the public till the necessary life-saving ; work is accomplished.—l am, etc., • ONE OF THE BEREAVED MOTHERS. April 21. - [Portions of this letter have been omitted as the inquiry into the ; wreck is still sub judice, Captain Naylor having appealed to the Supreme Court.] ••