Manawatu Herald. SATURDAY, FEB. 20, 1892. Tax All Land.

Manawatu Herald, 20 February 1892, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. SATURDAY, FEB. 20, 1892. Tax All Land.

: *r The wage-earners have for many years been associated together to withstand all attempts at lowering their wages. This has not been objected to by the majority of Colonists and no frictitin occurred until the Trades Unions considered they were all powerful enough to advance a step further. The various unions formed a Federated Council and we have seen the enormous extent to whioh that Council considered they are entitled to inflate themselves. The business of the Unions is now supposed, by, the Federated Council, to comprise not merely "tho^ management of their own affairs/ but the administration of the Colony. The time has now arrived when men, dependent upon capital for their daily bread, and upon farmers for making openings for the successful employment of this capital, consider that they can dictate, who, and what, shall be taxed. The Trade Unions, composed of noncapitalists and non-landowners, be* \ lieve, or say they do, that land and ; capital are the only ' two sources j ; from which taxation necessary for" ■ the good government of the Colony, : should be taken. They are anxious i to shed every drop of their brother's j \ blood in this manner, if they can J ; obtain other advantages free. Under j

these circumstances is it surprising that those, who have the class of property which these gentlemen desire to tax for everything, should stir themselves and put the other side of the question before the electors? If capital is frightened away in what manner will the small farmer be able co improve his holding ? and what will be the value of land without the capital to freeze the mutton and convey it and the wheat and other produce to the Home market? Of course the Unionists will reply, " you have your freezing companies and your shipping companies, they will not run away." To those who are not immediately interested it may answer to speak thus lightly, but to the small farmer, the want of capital will prevent a wholesome competition for his stock, it may in some cases cause the freezing works he is interested in to close, and is bound to make money dearer. Whatever hurts the farmer, hurts everyone, even the single-taxers acknowledge, when urging their single-tax theory, and it seems surprising why artisans should undermine their position by the action they are persuing. We fear it is because the majority have never given a thought to the question, but in their selfish desire for supreme power vote blindly as their leaders bid them. A day of reckoning would surely come to these leaders, when the evils caused by their advice, if successful, becomes apparent, but then they will have taken wing to another portion of the Globe. The Government papers are elated, oi pretend to be, at Mr Battley's remarks on the financial position. In our leader of the 11th instant we showed that Mr Battley had said: " If the Government would allay the scare at Home, and would generally work out their policy on fair lines, and would not hinder the free inflow of capital to the country, there was every reason to feel hopeful and confident." We believe that the Government are alarmed at the scare occasioned in financial circles at Home by their pandering to the platform of the wage-earners, and that having got into power by their votes, would be only too pleased to shelve them. The Trades Unions are not to be so easily got rid of, for they see no difference between dictating to a candidate, to dictating to a Member. We showed in our article that Messrs Muick, Earnshaw, W. P. Reeves, and W, Hutchinson had no idea that the proposals of the government were any more than the thin edge of the wedge, and that if they were continued in power they would have to mind the dictates of the Unionists. These statements are reoorded in Hansard and are not to be explained away. At the last general election the wage earners issued a platform, one plank of which was " That a Land Tax upon the value oiall land, exclusive of improvements be imposed in view of the Property Tax." The present Land Tax does not comply with these conditions, as the £500 exemption is still retained as was formerly allowed in the Property Tax. We are told that this Government is the friend of Bmall farmers, as they have increased the exemption for improvements, but how long will such proposals last? The Union* ists want a tax on all land, and the government must give way Mr E. M. Smith who told the government that they had adopted the programme he set before his constituents said " let us gradually try this new system of taxation, and if we find that it wants a little alteration we can make such alteration when we meet again " ! Mr Taylor would •• have liked the government to have indicated that they intend to tax our foreign landlords ; (that is capital) but that is an omission which I suppose will be rectified on a future day " ! Mr Hogg says " if we cannot establish what is termed land-nationalisation, at all events we can go some distance towards " . . . • "I look upon landnationalisation as a system which is going to obtain an ascendency not only in this colony, but all pver the British dominions." Mr Fish declared " the 1 tax is not heavy enough for me. i . . . It is a solemn warning given to those gentlemen of what may possibly overtake them if they do not do what they ought to do; and I promise, if that is not done, the honourable gentleman will have no complaint m the future about this not being a bursting-up policy." Mr Earnshaw further emphasized the points of the other speakers by saying "if this House has not agreed to a burstingup policy, the nation, that cannot do but right, will demand a heavier incidence of taxation for that pur* pose "1 The Government are in power by the votes of these men, and yet they try to allay the scare such utterances have naturally created ab Home i they would lead the small farmer to join wth tfiem, though their supporters demand a Land Tax on a/Hand, a tax on " foreign landlords " and a graduated tax on the resident landlords 1 The farmers, large and small will we hope before the next general election be so power-' fully banded together that thd speakers we have quoted, and the Ministry selected by them, will ba placed beyond the power of doing much more misohief.