MR SUTTON AT PETANE.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3249, 30 November 1881, Page 4

MR SUTTON AT PETANE.

Mr Sutton addressed a meeting of the electors in the school-room at Petane last evening. Mr Ton* occupied tlie chair. Mr Sutton repeated the views he had previously expressed on the property tax, advocating tlie repeal of the exemption, but that no sum less than £1 should be collected, which at the present halfpenny rate would exempt from the tax all having less than £480 clear, while capitalists would not be let off paying the tax on £500 worth of their property. He believed the absentee mortgagee should be taxed instead of the man who worked from early morning till late at night to improve his property. He was strongly in favor of direct taxation, and believed that until a long stride was made in that direction justice would not be done to the people. Every man who bought a shilling's wortli of tobacco contributed over sixpence to the revenue, and yet people said that the working men were not taxed. That was all humbug ; they were over-taxed, and he was strongly in favor of reducing taxation on the necessaries of life. Ho was a strong advocate of treating both races alike, and he trusted the Native Lands Bill would pass, and that bona fide settlers would be able to acquire the land. Mr Sutton concluded a manly outspoken speech amidst loud and continuous applause, and received a hearty and unanimous vote of thanks.