REPLY TO MR WHIBLEY.

Feilding Star, Volume XIV, Issue 2, 5 July 1892, Page 2

REPLY TO MR WHIBLEY.

[TO TIIE EDITOR OF THE STAB.] Sir,— There are a few points in Mr Whiblev's reply which I desire to toucli p He says if the big estates were Sup into 200 or 250 acre farrus, he revenue would fall very short, if collected on the present leases of _1 2s 2d for a S£> acre farui. Of course the revenue raised direct from the land would be , less, but the difference would be made up t hrough the customs by the * ho « sa ° J n f families that would be settled in the coun-

try. The land would then be cultivated i to a much greater extent, resulting in a j corresponding increase of produce which j would be conveyed by rail to the cities j and ports for shipment, thereby increasing \ our exports and the revenue derived from the railways. Our manufacturing and industrial establishments would also advance to keep pace with tbe increased population. With reference to farmers ; 1 having to pay a higher rate of interest on [ loans, I do not think such will be the case. The Hon Mr Ballance says he has found no evidence of the rate of interest increas- ! ing. He further states that a large Loan } Company that is said to be withdrawing from the colony, declined to renew a 7 per cent mortgage, with the result that the mortgage was immediately taken up by a Sydney Association at 6£ per cent which shows a fall of £ per cent in tho rate of interest. As to the absentees paying £5,500 less under the Land Tax than they did under the Property Tax, if such is the case why do they make such a noise about it ? I think they ought to be well satisfied with tbe new system of taxation. I am &c, T. R. Chamberlain.