CORRESPONDENCE.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XV, Issue 160, 6 July 1880, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE.

To the EniToa oe thb "Evening Mail.' Sib— Notwithstanding .old mother Nelson being always asleep, it seems that her children are endowed with more spirit and activity, and will not quietly submit to the scourge of taxation about to be applied to them without crying aloiid, for your journal informs me that public meetings have been recently held at Spring Grove and Waimea West, numor- ' ously attended, where the new system of taxation was considered and condemned, and resolutions to this effect carried unanimously, i and h theje resolutions hating been sent to

their honorable representative he fully concurs and : promises to support. Were our City members made acquainted with the general opinion of the electors of Nelson, there is no doubt but they would vote against so iniquitous an imposition. I quite agree with the resolutions passed at the Spring" Grove meeting; first retrench and talk about taxation afterwards. But if thß newspapers tell the truth the Premier said words meaning " first grant us the money, and leave retrenchment to the Government!" Was this not a cunning device? Look at the hundreds of useless offices—merely sinecures— for which the people hate to pay without the receivers doing one tittle of service in return. If these terrible concessions are allowed by Parliament contrary to the majority of the people^ where wilj the money go 'to? Why, like some great river running into the sea, its waters will be swallowed up by the ocean, and no more seen or known of it. So soon as more taxes are granted, so soon will the Government see plenty of hungry mouths open to receive them. Do not once think things will slay here} if these proposed taxes are granted 1 n'owj.the Government ' will want just as touch tnorfe next seseion, and so on until New Zealand exhibits the like scene of misery aB iB now to be seen in England and Ireland, fiom which all who can fly by thousands. And all this misery proceeds from the borrowing of money, to pay the interest alone of which absorbs the proceeds of -the industry and the exertions of the nation I And are We tP be brought to such a state of things here?; I have a just reason to subscribe myself, Sir, Yours, &c, Alarm. -