The Feilding Star. TUESDAY, JUNE 14, 1892. More Taxation

Feilding Star, Volume XIII, Issue 149, 14 June 1892, Page 2

The Feilding Star. TUESDAY, JUNE 14, 1892. More Taxation

According to an exchange Mr Ballance's coming budget will be of a P somewhat startling and sensational 1 character, the Government recognisiny that a radical Ministry cannot remain stagnant without losing prestige with its party, and that afresh supply of ° progressive policy " must be always on hand. According to the correspondent of the Orago Daily Times. Ministers are annoyed at the Opposition taunt that with a large surplus they have not done anything to relieve taxation, especially on the necessaries of life, and in aid of the working class. Therefore, with the view of repelling this taunt, they will employ r part of the present surplus in reduc- ' ing or removing the duty on tea or 1 sugar, or both, but that they will prof bably increase the duties on the more expensive kinds of liquor and on other [ " luxuries." Rumour says that Minis- \ ters are also vexed that industrial " protection " has so far been given only by the opposite party, and that to demonstrate their claim to be champions of industrial interests, they ' purpose imposing some heavy ad- ■ ditional protective duties. Amon* those mentioned to me are, 10 per cent, extra on iron, leather, cement, and other imports, also 5s a ton on Newcastle coal in retaliation for the New South Wales duty on grain. Other extensive re-arrangements of the Customs tariff (says the Manawatu Times) are spoken of as impending. It is not expected that there will be any increase proposed in the land tax, as Ministers resent the imputation that they are driving capital out of the colony, and they do not wish to give fresh grounds for complaint ; indeed, it is regarded as certain that there will be some relief as to the obnoxious tax on debentures."