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Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 992, 30 August 1877, Page 2

Vow that the question of a change in the incidence of taxation is being discussed in this colony, it may he interesting to know what they are doing elsewhere in the same direction. The Victorian Ministry have brought down a budget in which the principal feature is a land tax, which aims at reaching the owners of large estates. At the close of his financial statement Mr Berry moved a resolution on the subject which a recent cable telegram informs us has been carried in the Legistive Assembly. It is as follows : —• “ That towards raising the supply granted to her Majesty there shall be charged, raised, levied, collected, and paid unto, and to the use of her Majesty, her heirs, and successors, the rate and duty hereinafter mentioned, that is to say —on all lands alienated in fee from the Crown there shall be charged yearly in respect of the property thereof for every £.1.00 of the capital value of such lands the sum of £1 ss, and in the same proportion for any fractional part thereof. That in order to ascertain such capital value such lands shall be divided into four classes, and valued as follows, that is to say —First class, £-1 per acre ; second class, £8 per acre; third class, £2 per acre; fourth class, £1 per acre. Such classification to be based on the grazing capabilities of such laud, and to be estimated as follows, viz.;—Land capable of, carrying two Bjisep or more to tb acre to tie

included in the first class ; laud capable of carrying three sheep to two acres to be included in the second class; land capable of carrying one sheep to the acre to be included in the third class : land not capable of carrying one sheep to the acre to be included in the fourth class. Provided that every owner in fee simple shall to the extent of £2500 be exempt from such rate; provided also, that in levying the said rate or duty every tenant paying the same shall be entitled to deduct from the rent next due to his landlord the amount so paid : and all covenants, contracts, or agreements contrary to the true effect and intent of tin's resolution shall be void and of no effect.” It is also proposed to lay an impost on livestock as follows ; —Oxen, 5s per head ; horses, 5s ; sheep, 9d ; pigs, 2s. Prom the land tax a revenue of £200,000 is estimated to be raised, and the live stock tax is calculated to produce £50,000.