WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 11, 1912.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 11 September 1912, Page 2

WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 11, 1912.

WE have the bill now before Parliament. According to promise it gives another THE turn of the screw, GRADUATED albeit somewhat TAX lightly; and it decidedly improves the scale of application from top

to bottom. It is true, of course, that the graduated principal was first adopted by the party not now in power., But it is also true that no party can be regarded as possessing any patent right in such a matter. There is a fierce debate as to whether the tax has diminished the large holdings, but if it is true that it has, then the extra turn must be pronounced in the right direction. As the affirmative about this cause of diminution is held by both sides it follows that they must both accept the conclusion that the new taxation is what it ought to be. • One side calls it a bursting up tax; while the other says, through the mouth of the present Finance Minister, that it is for " encouraging " subdivision. There is no need to quarrel over terms, and for ourselves we frankly admit to preference of the more euphonious term. " Bursting, up " carries an undesirable, echo of the " confiscation " argument; a very undesirable argument in the matter of a great national policy. On the whole the Government has re- j deemed an important promise on j which it was seriously challenged? and deserves in consequence, the** credit always due from a fair-p minded people to correctness of c 1 performance in matters of prom-F ise. !