The Feilding Star, Oroua & Kiwitea Counties Gazette. Published Daily. THURSDAY, AUGUST 30, 1894. MORE TAXATION.

Feilding Star, Volume XVI, Issue 55, 30 August 1894, Page 2

The Feilding Star, Oroua & Kiwitea Counties Gazette. Published Daily. THURSDAY, AUGUST 30, 1894. MORE TAXATION.

. In a recent issue we mentioned that in order to make up for the falling Customs revenue it was probable the Colonial Treasurer will have to seek for financial aid by the imposition of freeli or increased duties. Since then we have seen an article written by a well informed Parliamentary correspondent in which he says: — It is ) thought he (the Colonial Treasurer) will get the Tariff Commission to recommend increased duties to placate tbe protectionists, while to secure the farmers' vote he will propose a duty on wheat and flour. It will be re , membered that the trend of agitation by the country party has of late been in the direction of inducing the Government to assist country producers ■ to make production pay, and but a few years ago a petition from the Southland settlers was presented asking for the imposition of retaliatory duties against Victoria. The duties on wheat and flour would give him very little real financial aid, but when the volume of goods in transit is considered, if the Treasurer can get specific duties instead of advalorum and increased duties, the Customs revenue, if not increased, will be prevented from falling. It is admitted that the Government are much concerned at tbe financial stress likely to be caused by the falling revenue. It r appears to us that it would be much better for the Government to abstain from " tinkering with the tariff " altogether unless in tbe direction , of reducing > the taxation on the necessaries of life, and instead make a self • sacrificing effort to restore the confidence of business men in the Colony. There are now enormous sums of money lying comparatively . idle in the banks for the simple but sufficient reason that owing to recent, and anticipated legislation, the owners ( are afraid to invest it in either in dustries or entnrprises which maj j become ruinous by some Act or othei . passed to please a small section of the community, or to secure a wavering vote. Aioney ia hand ia better than I money in land in these days of class legislation.