The Globe. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 1877.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 1012, 22 September 1877, Page 2

The Globe. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 1877.

In former articles we have drawn attention to the doings of the Yictorian Parliament in connection with the imposition of a land tax. A resolution embodying the principle was carried by a large majority, and now the Bill itself has been introduced which is to give effect to the will of Parliament on the subject. We are indebted to the Argus for a summary of the Bill. A landed estate shall bo considered to be a parcel or parcels of land of upwards of 040 acres in extent, forming one area or separate areas, not more than (distance to be filled up in committee) apart, valued at upwards of £2,500. The tax is to be payable half-yearly. The Governor in Council is to be authorised to cause a classification of land to be made on the basis of the resolution we have referred to, and may appoint for this purpose three fit and proper persons to be commissioners of land tax to superintend this classification. These commissioners are to have power to hear, receive, and examine evidence and punish witnesses by fine and imprisonment, or both, for wilful misbehaviour, interruption, provocation, neglect to attend when duly summoned, or to produce papers, &c., without just excuse and refusal to answer questions, provided always that no such fine shall exceed fifty pounds, and such imprisonment shall be for a term not exceeding six months. The Governor is also empowered to appoint classifiers, any two of whom may classify every landed estate in respect of which any person is liable to pay land tax. Within a month of the publication of the classification, a dissatisfied owner may appeal to the Commissioners, who deal with it in a summary manner. On hearing the evidence, they may either confirm the classification, or remove the land to a lower class, every such decision to be final. A laud tax register is to be compiled, and the liability of any person properly placed on it will continue until he has given notice to the registrar. Power is given to distrain for arrears, but a tenant will have the right to recover from his landlord. The Argus is naturally alarmed at the very large powers conferred upon the Commissioners : —“ To entrust men who will be free from any responsibility while they continue to stand well with their political party, with the sole power of adjusting a very onerous tax, is. we think, a dangerous experiment, but to empower them to inflict fines up to fifty pounds, and to imprison for a period not exceeding six months for contempt, is, we submit, to menace public liberty. As to their decisions being final, we can only say that even if the Commissioners were certain to be men of a much higher stamp than we are likely to see appointed, we should still object on principle to the withdrawal of that right of appeal to the supreme tribunal in the colony which is the only protection we possess fi’om the tyranny of amateur courts.” Judging from the temper of the House of Representatives and the country, we in New Zealand may before long be called on to deal with this question also, and it is therefore of importance that an intelligent public opinion should be formed upon it, but we hope our legislators will set about their task in a very different spirit to that which actuates many of the Victorian representatives, who are more remarkable for their rabid hatred “to the large landowners than for their ample knowledge, sound judgment, and political impartiality.”

The New Zealand Times calls attention to the fact that the butchers of Wellington are beginning to import meat for the supply of that city from Canterbury, and it is thought that this source of supply will have to be resorted to largely in the immediate future. “ That Canterbury should supply us with Hour is,” says our contemporary, “not a matter of much surprise, for, owing to the natural features of this province (Wellington), and the land being heavily timbered, our Southern neighbour , , , has the advantage of us. However, the Wairarapa and Eangitikei districts have always been famed for the excellence of their pastures, and it does really seem a reflection on the enterprise of the settlers that they cannot supply their own markets with meat.” This scarcity, our contemporary says, is caused by boiling down and no provision made for winter consumption, aad the consequence is “that the

butchers of Wellington have to import sheep from Canterbury at a cost of 20s per head.” It is creditable to the enterprise of the farmers of this province that they are able not only to find a market for their wheat and flour outside, but are also beginning to supply other parts of the colony besides Westland with meat.