The Fielding Star. THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 1885. Taxation

Feilding Star, Volume VII, Issue 6, 25 June 1885, Page 2

The Fielding Star. THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 1885. Taxation

However much we may prefer the policy of the Stout- Yogel Ministry to 1 that of the Continuous Ministry, we j cannot consistently close our eyes to I the fact that under the administration of the former, the colony has to submit to increased taxation at the rate of one pound per head of the whole population. Sir Juuus Vooel promised that the burdens of the taxpayers would be lightened, and as an earnest of his future intentions in that respect reduced the property tax. This was a good thing in its way, but the real taxpayer received not one farthing benefit therefrom, while the revenue was reduced only to benefit the more wealthy classes. The change in the policy of Sir Julius has not been made l»y any power over which his Government had control. The anticipated war between England and a foreign power made it imperative that the colofey should be put in a state of defence, and the large consequent expenditure in the erection of forts, with the purchase of war material, has deranged the whole scheme as sketched when Sir Julius undertook the Govern* nient. Tho increase to Customs £125,000, Stamps £10,000, Property Tax £126,000, and the accretions of the Sinking Fund £258,000, make a total of £520,000; this sum being about equal to that required for defence purposes. These figures look, and no doubt are, very formidable, yet when they are analysed we find that the lower strata — if we may use the term —of taxpayers, that is the consumers of dutiable goods, will not be so very heavily pressed, as, taking the preseut population of the colony at 500,000 (the census of 1881 showed 489,933) — a very low estimate— the increase is only about 5s per head. It it is admitted that next year the necessity of war expenditure will not exist, it is only fair to hope that the extra burdens placed during the current year may be then removed. It has been said by some of our Southern content poraries that the state of trade, the low prices of wool, grain, &c, &c, have rendered the colony unable to bear further taxation. It may be so in certain districts, but we hold that taking the colony as a whole, it is much better off than it was two years ago, and the extra drain on the pockets of the taxpayers will be submitted to with no more grumbling thau generally accompanies the disgorgement. In the case of the Customs tax every one has the power to regulate the amount he pays. There is no compulsion as in the case of other taxes. We do not defend the infliction of increased taxation. We merely desire, to excuse it on the grounds that the colony having incurred a debt, it is bound in honor to pay it. New Zealand and the Australian Colonies cannot blame their Ministers for war expenditure. The rapacity ' of Russia, and the flaccid policy of the English Ministry, were the direct causes of this waste of money. That any Ministry will venture on further taxation, unless on similar grounds, we do not believe, and should they have the temerity to do so, the country would rise up against it to v man. ___^_^_____