THE KAIKOURA STAR. KAIKOURA, AUGUST 14, 1894.

Kaikoura Star, Volume XIV, Issue 764, 14 August 1894, Page 4

THE KAIKOURA STAR. KAIKOURA, AUGUST 14, 1894.

The demand made upon land owners to pay Land Tax several months earlier than heretofore is an unjust requisition upon one section of the community to enable the Colony to forthwith meet pressing engagements. Sheep farmers have just been called upon to pay sheep rates —the only direct class tax now obtaining in the Colony—and now they are required to pay their Land Tax quite three months earlier than was anticipated. This is decidedly unfair to land holders who are also sheep farmers. Had Treasury Bills been issued the tax would have fallen upon the shoulders of ono and all, alike, and not, as now, upon those of one section alone. Burdens should certainly be placed upon the backs best able to bear them, but the imposition should be made in

a just mannner. If men can be called upon to pay taxes three months before they are ordinarily due then iu time it may come to their being required to make such payments eleven months earlier than in equity they should be demanded —nay, are legally payable except by alteration of the law. Even handed justice is (he basis of true Liberalism.

Infatuation and blind lolly are declared by some of the so - called friendly, or, at any rate, avowed, well wishing, critics of the Premier to be the rocks on which he has split | recently. The unfortunate incident in connection with the appointmet of Sergeant-at-Arms certainly played into the hands of his opponents, while the mistaken and indefensible action of the Premier was just the very thing for those who bold him chargeable with fatuity. There is no doubt it has not helped" if it has not injured and weakened, his following. The past, however, can yet be redeemed by making amends, as far as possible, for the error into which the Premier fell —very much better men have made more palpable mistakes. We are very much surprised to see so many increases of salaries on the Estimates, and particularly so in the face of the refusal of the Ministry to favorably consider the claims made by Mr Locke and Sergt Major Anderson. Their cases are very deserving ones, indeed, for each has done good work for the Colony. Contrasted with the provision made for a political friend—Col. Fraser—and the additions made to the salaries of high officials here and there, the refusal of the Government to give Messrs Locke and Anderson what they are justly entitled to, is shameful treatment. The one has done good service in connection with public I works, while the other proved himself an exceptionally valuable officer of police in Otago, when police duty was both arduous and hazardous work. Wo hope that the Premier will be true to the men who have given their health and strength in the service of the Colony.

A motion in the Legislative Council to set up a Committee to enquire into the bi-metallic currency; State Bank of issue and deposit; and State inconvertible paper currency questions was lost by 14 votes to 7. The Legislative Councillors have really had nothing to do this session so far, and yet they shirk this question because it is a large order, and would take up too much time. Councillors had only just met after a week’s holiday, and yet within an honr afterwards the Council adjourned, before 5 p.m., until next day. This is Legislative trifling !