THE GLOBE. FRIDAY, JULY 2, 1880.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1983, 2 July 1880, Page 2

THE GLOBE. FRIDAY, JULY 2, 1880.

The result of the meeting at the Oddfellows’ Hall last night was of course no surprise to anybody. With but few exceptions the attendants at that meeting had met to curee the Government, and they proceeded to do so regardless of rhyme or reason. It was a mere matter of detail, the form into which the anathema was to be cast. The property tax was a convenient peg on which to hang the curse, partly, no doubt, because it is a direct tax, and consequently irksome. But the speakers were so extremely wild in some of their statements, and showed, as a rule, so little knowledge of the subject they were dealing with that they might, to all intents and purposes, just as well have taken some other Government measure as a basis of their attack. It is of course patent to everybody that the property tax is not a perfect one, and is no more pleasant than would be an income or land tax. But, even knowing what the meeting had come together for, we had hoped to have heard some solid arguments brought forward against the property tax and some reasons adduced for the imposition of other taxes in its place. But of solid argument what was there in last night’s meeting ? Looking at the speeches in a perfectly unbiassed frame of mind, we are bound to say that there is next to nothing in them. They are neither exhaustive or suggestive. They leave the question exactly where it was before, and the result of the meeting is merely the passing of certain resolutions which will not in the least surprise the proscn L . Government or any one else. For Liberal Reform meetings in the Oddfellows’ Hall are getting more or less of an institution in Christchurch, and the modus operandi is becoming as uniform as a Church service. The instructions to the initiated are, apparently, to cheer lustily whenever Sir George Grey’s name is mentioned and whenever anything is stated to the discredit of the present Government, aud to treat uproariously all attempts to run counter to the views of the meeting. Perhaps it was a little rude of Mi' Pratt suggesting that there wore but half a dozen in the hall who would contribute a shilling to tho tax, but this much may bo fairly bo said that the bulk of those

in Christchurch who are affected by the Property Tax did not appear last night to protest against it. The only point worth an old song in the whole proceedings was that made by Mr. Ayers when he said that any stock that may happen to bo unproductive and - lie on hand is taxed. But is Mr. Ayers the only gentleman in Christchurch with unproductive stock ? The larger number affected did not appear on the platform and naturally too. They are aware that there must bo flaws iu any scheme of taxation, and they look at the wide principle and do not haggle over partial blemishes. Besides, there is such a thing as unproductive land. So that the same objection that Mr. Ayers raised against the property tax might just as well bo raised against the land tax.

On another point, too, wo decidedly disagree with Mr. Ayers. He cries out for measures, not men. It is a proverb that applies in many instances. But here in New Zealand wo have panaceas by tho hundred for existing evils. What is wanted is an honest and vigorous executive. And last night’s division in the House of Representatives shows that this is recognised there. The members who then recorded their confidence in tho Government did not do so because they agreed with all their financial proposals. Par otherwise, for their speeches have shown them to possess views of the most varied colours. But the reason why they gave their vote as they did was because they knew the Ministry to he honest and vigorous. They wont in for men, the old proverb notwithstanding. As for the speakers who followed Mr. Ayers, the less said about them the better. Mr. Treadwell was, as usual, marvellously diffuse, He lost himself, and his hearers lost thematlves, in mazes of figures, till ho entered into his own personal history, which, curiously enough, was not as interesting as a three-volume novel. One of the speakers seemed to think that largo landed proprietors who lived out of New Zealand, by some marvellous process, escaped the property tax, another that the great remedy was the sending of representatives to the House who were not likely to take up Pire Brigade Bills. As a demonstration that the Liberal Reform element is still in possession of excellent, not to say redundant, animal spirit and lungs, last night’s meeting may he looked upon as a success, hut as an expression of the opinion of the parties affected by the present incidence of taxation its value is simply nil. The speakers were not representative men of any party, the arguments adduced were feeble, no suggestions were thrown out, and the whole affair was as devoid of backbone as a jelly-fish.