Manawatu Herald. SATURDAY, AUGUST 27, 1892. Town v. Country.

Manawatu Herald, 27 August 1892, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. SATURDAY, AUGUST 27, 1892. Town v. Country.

The lack of interest taken in politics by the country settlers haß led to their being subjected to a heavier taxation than their more fortunate town neighbours. It is painfully evident in the matter of education, and ia so in nearly every other case when carefully considered, The absurdity of the country settlers submitting to it is apparent when it is known that they are the more numerous, but owing partly to their easy indifference, and partly to the inconvenience of meeting more often together, they hardly are sufficiently decided upon what their needs are to take prompt and united action for their own defence. Thus the townspeople, easily collected, and easily persuaded, are the masters of the colony, and will be until an awakening has been effected amongst our rural population. In the Financial debate we were pleased to notice that our representative, Mr J. G-. Wilson, took some pains to make this clear to the House. He pointedout that a man investing his money on land or on mortgage has to pay 8s 4d on £100, as against 2s 6d on money invested in any other way. This is not calculated to encourage men to occupy our waste lands or to lend farmers cheap money. A man who deposits his capital in a bank at five per cent interest, he is, at present, exempted to the extent of £6000 as against £500 in the ease of a man who has invested his money on mortgage, or £500 in unimproved land. Mr Wilson shows how a man may possibly have £9499 pounds worth of property without paying any taxation, in the following manner : — He may have £6000 in a bank, £8000 improvements on £500 worth of land, which would be exempt and also would the land. If, however, the same sum was invested in land, the exemptions would be only £3,500, and he would have to pay one penny in the pound on £6,000. A carefully worked out table was quoted by Mr Wilson showing the different taxations payable on £10,000 if invested as follows : — If in a bank deposit, the, income would be £500, the exemption claimed would be £800, leaving £200 liable to the sixpence in the pound tax, which would thus be £5 ; if 'the amount was invested on mortgage there is only an exemption on £500, and therefore a tax of one penny in the pound would be payable on the balance (£9,000), which would mean £89 11s ; if put into land with £3.000 exemptions, the tax would be payable on £7,000, thus meaning £29 3s.

Many other instances have been given, and we may say that the speech is well worth reading by everyone interested in this question of taxation, Mr Wilson having taken great pains to show how unjust the proposals are. We will content ourselves with quoting two more glaring examples. Thus supposing a man has 500 acres for which he has paid £2 an acre, the cost is £1000, and with improvements the total is brought up to £3000, yefe the owner having had only a capital of £1000 he has had to borrow £2000. When the land is valued the improvements are not given full value to, say they are set down at £1500, instead of the £2000 cost, it follows that the mortgagee would have to pay one penny in the pound on the £2000 money lent, equalling £8 6s Bd, and the farmer would have to pay on the balance of the £3000 after the exemptions lor £1500 for improvements and £500 for land are deducted, or on £1000 which equals £4 3s 4d. Thus it will be seen by this curious shuffling of taxation the whole value of the land becomes taxed in the long run ! Another sample is well worth bearing in mind. Under the income portion of the land tax a tradesman is entitled to deduct his overdraft at the bank by being permitted to deduct from his return of income, the interest he pays the bank for his overdraft, but the settler is not allowed to do so and is thus heavily handicapped as against the town dweller. Not only is this extremely unfair, but it. is also an innovation by the present Government, as under the Property Tax he was allowed to

do so. Our present great financiers by this new impost again secure the payment of a tax twice over, as the settler has to pay on his property the tax lor the value of his land for which he OW6S the bank, say £1000, and the bank has to take credit for the interest received from the settler for the £1000 lent, and to pay the Government one shilling in the pound income tax. Evidently it will pay the country settlers to take a little more interest in politics than they have done lately.

We remind ratep'dyef t thrtt nominations for the office of Councillor ffitlrf be lodged with the Returning Officer by noon of Monday. 1 The Rowing Club intend to hold a vocal and instrumental concert on the evening of their'opening day, Tuesday week. Tickets for the performance are now being sold. We can safely promise that a first class entertainment will be provided, as the Rowing Club is popular and has always been well aided. _ Mr McMillan, one of the Borough Councillors who retire, notifies the ratepayers that he intends to be a candidate, and in the event of a contest requests their votes A special meeting of the Borough Council is being held this afternoon to further consider the water supply question. Messrs Thacker & Pallant have a new notice in to>day's issue regarding their stock of boots and shoeSi The Drapery Importing Company, the D.I.C in advertisements, have a change to-day in their position over the leader. Mr Joe Tos has also altered his advertisement, noting further lines in stock. With this issue we enclose as an inset particulars of a proposal for the formation of a company to take over and carry on the business of the " Beady Money Store," at Palmerston. We shall refer more fully to it in our next issue. We would suggest that ratepayers should not at present make any distinct promises of their votes until the names of the candidates for the office of Councillor are announced, as we hear of many gentlemen seeking that honorable office. The bachelors tea on Tuesday was a very great suocesa as we fully expected it to be. There were 200 at the tea and entertainment. During the tea the Town Band played some good selections of music which were well appreciated. We may mention that their services were gratuitous j Mr H. P. Foster did the catering and placed an excellent spread, and the committee are well satisfied with his exertions. After tea an entertainment was given to which all were admitted free, and there were songs, speeches and recitations. The ladies who kindly gave their services were Mrs Gray and W. Cook, and the Misses McMillan, Austin, Gibson, Cummerfield, Gray, Howe, and Spring. Tbe gentlemen were Messrs G. Chuck and T. Westwood. Mr Ray gave a short address. One or two pieces were sung by the children. The oomniittee desire to thank all those who so kindly assisted to make the gathering such a success, The net profit amounted to £8 13s.

Tawhiao, the Maori King, has Issued a printed manifesto embodying the statement made by him at the recent native meeting at Maungakawa, Waikato. He says the Government have deoeived him with reference to his arrangement with the Native Minister by which |he received a pension, and says that what Mr Cadman really said to him was in effect — " Eetain control of the Maori people and conduct and govern your own. people, the Maoris.^ There;is no meaning in the pension whioh is given you as you are getting old." Tawhiao reiterates his independence as the Maori King, and concludes by saying he will not touch tlie money offered him.

Thomas M. Newth, of Foxton asks fora land grant for military aervioes,

Sir John Hall in a late debate said :— l( Pope said of a certain politician that he ' foamed a Liberal, to subside a Peer ' The Government have promised to 45 gentlemen who • have foamed as Liberals ' that they should ' subside as Peers.' " :

It is reported that the Sultan of Morocco is paying eight dollars each for the heads of Aughevlte rebels. .. . ; ,

A big sale of Surplus Winter Stock will oommenoe on Friday, July Ist, at The Wholesale Family Drapery Warehouse, Te Aro House, Wellington.

We would earnestly advise all country settlers to make sure of this opportunity and try if possible to pay a visit to the Empire City during the continuance of this big sale at Te Aro House, Wellington. Our Sale Price Lists will, on application, be forwaMed postage free from the Big Sale at Te Ar,o JJouse^WelUh^tftn. i ..,/] We ; feel sure : that . the e^ppiia^ <tf ( the \ trip would be far more than redoupVd land there would be the additional advantage of choosing from the largest and most varied lot of Bargains in the Province. If ■ this is duly estimated a trip to the Te Aro House big sale will become a positive, necessity. If unable to come, orders with; cash can be sent to us direct and we will guarantee instant attention and prompt despatch from the Big Sale at Te Aro House, Weilington

The annual stock-taking aalft at the Bon Marche, Palmerston North, is now on. The feature of the annual sales of this firm is that the whole stock, without any reserve, is offered at greatly reduced prices,; every article in stock being subject to re-i ductiori as the stock must be reduced at' least £2000 previous to the Annual Balance, and purchasers have the benefit of a £6000 stock to select from.— Advt.