Correspondence.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume III, Issue 64, 17 March 1868, Page 3

Correspondence.

DIRECT TAXATION AND FAIR PLAY FOR LABOR. To the Editor of the Nelson Evening Mj-ul. g 1R — I spoke in my last letter of respon**. sible government, but we have no such thing in New Zealand, except in name, and shall not have until direct taxation in proportion to a man's wealth and privilege becomes law. As things are now, one minister bluuders and retires, only to make way for another to waste and squander, but not one is ever made responsible for a Denny. It is openly admitted — was admitted in the General Assembly, that a great proportion of the three million loan was squandered, but who was ever made responsible? No one. On the coutrary, the blunderers and squanderers are all in the receipt of large salaries, drawn frora the public purse, which is filled from taxes levied on the necesaries of life; but substitute direct taxation in proportion to a man's wealth and privileges in the land, on the same principle that the provinces raise their taxes for roads, and for water, and sewers, then any blunder or extravagant proposal would mean threepence or sixpence in the pound, extra property and income tax, and so responsible Government would begin. Therefore, I say, let the Press agitate for ' direct taxation and fair play for labor.' Let the people no longer trust to men who talk loud of ths evils of excessive taxation out of the house, aod then vote for increased taxation, and iucreased debt within it. Let them no longer trust to men who covet a ' surplus populatiou,' or hold any such inhuman principle. It is they who threw out the bill for deferred payment of landLwhich was passed by the Nelson Provincial Council. It is such who have supported wholesale immigration, whose fondest dream is to reduce wages, who would limit a man's freehold io the extent of a- garden plot, and no more, and who envy him his cow, and any degree of independence at all. Thd

electors know tbe men who hold these and similar views well enough, and lj say they are not the men to send to tbe Assembly, but they are the men who edged their way into power, and have done their best to strip the masses of the ability to become freeholders, or householders, or cattle owners. Such men would have the masses tenant, and dependants, and the whole course of their legislation has been tending this way, and if much longer persevered iu, will render necessary workhouses to our public establishments, and relieving officers to the staff of public officials. They have so far injured the country already, that the settlers have not the means to possess themselves of the stocks that hang on hand so long in the stores and shops, and which they so much need, nor can they avail themselves of labor that is asking employment, to make their homes as they would like to see them, and their land as fertile as increased expenditure would make it, and so depression and bad times and dulness are brought to pass in the couutry and towu alike, for as all wealth comes from labor on the soil, so does trade and commerce depend for prosperity on the workers and producers beiug in a thriving condition. Therefore the present is is not a question of town or country, but both alike, for the only way to enrich the town is to make the country people prosperous, then they will be able to purchase the goods the dealers are so auxious to sell them, and they are so anxious to possess themselves of, and, wbat is more, tbey will be able to pay for them. Tours, &c, A Member of the League.

To the Editor op the Nelson Evening Ma.il Sie — I should be glad to know at what time of the day the telegraphic shipping intelligence is supposed to be posted at the Telegraph Office? On the West Coast, whence I have just arrived, from 9 to halfpast 9in the morning is the usual time when such intelligence is posted. Here, at 11 o'clock this morning, yesterday's telegrams were not supplemented by a single line. I would further ask does it serve any useful purpose to keep telegraphic intelligence ten days old before the public, as is done here? One expects from telegrams the latest information, and is quite indifferent about those which have lost all flavor from age. Yours respectfully, Visitor. March 17th, 1868. [Our correspondent is evidently in error. The shipping telegrams are forwarded frora the various ports immediately after the arrival or departure of the vessels, and are immediately posted at the office. We find that the reason why no telegram appeared this morning at 11 o'clock, was simply that none were transmitted until 11.26.— Ed. E.M.]