MR. TRAVERS' SLIDE FOR THE POOR MAN.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4597, 14 December 1875, Page 3

MR. TRAVERS' SLIDE FOR THE POOR MAN.

TO THE KDIIOK OF THE NEW ZEALAND TIMES. Sib,—The extent of public virtue in individuals which, dormant for long intervals, a contested election stirs up and galvanises is a caution. It is moreover verv remarkable that the Opposition have always a monopoly of the supply of that kind of virtue, and trade in it ad hoc with infinite cheek. Sir George Grey, as becomes his high position, makes the most striking display in that line, and has the biggest shop for virtue. He trades with the whole human race as a rule; and if upon an exceptional occasion he breaks a package and does a little retail, he prefers, I think, large orders in bulk, and to have " all mankind" and their mothers as customers for his wares. Mr. Travers is more modest and more practical. He seems not unwilling to leave the incidence of taxation on tea and wideawakes to be dealt with by the great pro-consul, but ha sees a way to benefit his fellow-creatures of the poorer classes without getting, like the classical cobbler, beyond his "last." Mr. Travers thinks there should be a graduated scale of stamp duties on land sales, so that the poor man who buys or sells one hundred pounds' worth should not be compelled to pay duty on the same scale as the bloated aristocrat who wants to buy or sell a property for £5000.'.'. I ain not going to take an ungenerous advantage of * gentleman on the stump like Mr. Travers, who has benevolent aspirations for that sort of poor man who is able to buy or sell one hundred pounds worth of land, by indicating the weakness of hi 3 proposed sliding scale as a means of relief for his special proteges/but I will make him a suggestion gratuitously, by which he may profit if he really means business in the "sliding" tine. It is in my experience, as in that of other poor men, that the heaviest of taxes upon transfer of property is the ingenious charges which constitute a lawyer's little bilL Benevolence like Mr. Travers' ought to begin at home, and not in the public Treasury. Now is his opportunity to construct a " slide" upon which plumpers in his favor will run into the ballot-box.* Will the respectable firm of Travers and Co. at once announce to the Honorable Mr. Veie de Vero that when he next calls about the sale of that chateau in espagne the charge for "attending him and receiving instructions'* will be six and eightpence; and will they at the same time gladden the heart of Jones by assuring him that the first shot in his little biisines3 abont the shanty in Dirty-lane will be three andfourpence only, and that in all busings transactions with the firm the charges will be upon a sliding scale, growing beautifully less in a ratio determinable by the state'ofthe balances of parties with their bankers, andth'aJLwhen the balance is on the wrong side there will"b& advice gratis 2 That will be something practical ; it. will bring custom, and will secure for the people's friend my vote and that of many another. —I am, &c., .. Pook Man. December 9.