The Feilding Star. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1886. Protection v Freetrade

Feilding Star, Volume VII, Issue 109, 23 February 1886, Page 2

The Feilding Star. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1886. Protection v Freetrade

«. Oub contemporary, the Christchurch Press in an article relative to the loan proposals of the Government, and the additional taxation to be inflicted on the colonists, says that the poor will have to bear the burden. It is to be indirect taxation obtained in such a way as to delude the taxpayer into the pleasing notion that he is not being taxed at all. The Protection heresy seems to be designed for the protection of the wealthy in democratic countries. Where, as here, political power rests entirely with the poor, that is to say, with the many, we would naturally suppose, when the inherent selfishness of man is taken into consideration, that the heaviest taxation would be levied on the wealthy and by direct methods, so that there should be no escapa from it. But the protectionist delusion comes to the aid of the wealthy minority, and in the guise of protection to native industry and ample employment for the labourer and the artisan, it induces the poorer classes, notwithstanding theirpossesion of all political power, to adopt a plan of taxation which shall greatly relieve wealth to the detriment of labour. In accordance with this we are told that the property tax, which is a tax upon wealth, if ever there was one, must not, cannot be increased, but that the Customs duties, which are mainly taxes upon labour, are to be largely increased. We always strive to lock at public questions impartially and free from all class bias, and while anxious to do all that lies in our power for the amelioration of the condition of those classes who live by the sweat of their brows, we are no friends to any scheme for the excessive or vindictive taxation of the wealthy. We firmly believe that any attempt to make a raid upon the wealthy for revenue purposes would, in the long run, injure the working classes as much as those who are thus plundered. But, nevertheless, if we are to have half-a-million ef extra taxation imposed upon us, we say that it will be a monstrous injustice if it is to be raised by Customs duties from those who are here, and who by the labour of their hands and brains are helping on the work of colonisation. The property tax, however, cannot be increased. It is already a severe burden upon enterprise of all sorts, for all those who pay property tax are not wealthy, and even the wealthy are, in this country, as heavily taxed as it is possible to tax them without compelling them to fly from our shores. AYe cannot, indeed, submit to any further taxation, direct or indirect. But we only wish that the Government if they propose fresh taxation, will propose it in some direct form, for then their proposals would be most promptly rejected.